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Aviation glossary

Washout

What is washout?

Illustration related to washout
Image: Aldo116 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Washout is a slight built-in twist in a wing so that the angle of incidence (and angle of attack) is greater at the wing root than at the wingtip. This design causes airflow to separate at the root first during a stall, keeping the tips—and the ailerons—flying longer for better roll control and gentler stall behavior. Think of it as the wing root "stalling first on purpose" so you keep aileron authority deep into a stall.

Also known as: wing twist, washin (opposite)

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