What do flaps and LEDs do?

• A. Create lift during takeoff or landing.
• B. Reduce drag on approach.
• C. Improve engine efficiency.
• D. Stabilize in a crosswind.

Answer: (A)

Flaps and leading-edge devices share the goal of increasing lift at low speeds, which is essential for safe takeoff and landing. Deploying flaps increases the wing’s camber (and sometimes effective wing area), boosting the lift coefficient so the aircraft can fly at slower speeds without stalling. Leading-edge devices—like slats or Krueger flaps—extend to reshape the airflow over the wing’s front, further increasing lift and delaying stall at high angles of attack. This combination lets you take off and land more smoothly and safely at lower speeds, even though it may add some drag. The other options describe effects that aren’t the primary purpose of flaps and leading-edge devices.