The purpose of stall strips on airplane wings is to

• A. Increase overall lift
• B. Ensure that the wing root areas stall first
• C. Reduce drag at cruise
• D. Delay stall to higher angles

Answer: (C)

Stall strips are used to trip the airflow so the wing stalls in the inboard (root) region before the outer wing. This makes the stall progression predictable and keeps the ailerons effective longer, giving the pilot warning and easier recovery rather than letting the tip stall first and cause a sudden, hard roll. They don’t serve to reduce drag during cruise; their main benefit is safer, more controllable stall behavior.