What happens to lift when the angle of attack increases beyond a critical point?

When the angle of attack increases beyond a critical point, the airflow over the wings begins to separate from the wing's upper surface, leading to a significant disruption in the smooth flow of air. This separation results in a dramatic decrease in lift, and the airplane experiences a stall.

A stall occurs when the wings can no longer generate sufficient lift to support the weight of the aircraft. Beyond the critical angle of attack, even though the wing is still experiencing airflow, the lift-generating characteristics of the wing are compromised. The abrupt loss of lift at this point can make controlling the aircraft more challenging, as it may lead to an uncommanded descent or altitude loss.

In contrast, below this critical point, increasing the angle of attack generally leads to an increase in lift, up to this critical limit. Once the critical angle is exceeded, however, the system transitions quickly into stall conditions, emphasizing the importance of understanding and recognizing stall characteristics in aviation.