At what speed does buffet occur before the stall?

Buffet typically occurs at a specific speed before an aircraft reaches its stall speed, serving as a warning signal that the aircraft is approaching an aerodynamic stall condition. The correct answer is that buffet occurs at approximately 5 knots before the stall.

This occurrence can be attributed to the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft. As the aircraft approaches the stall speed, the airflow over the wings begins to separate and the angle of attack increases. At around this point, pilots experience buffet as the control surfaces and wing surfaces feel the effects of turbulent airflow, indicating that they are nearing the critical angle of attack.

Understanding this threshold helps pilots maintain situational awareness, as recognizing buffet can prompt them to reduce the angle of attack or increase airspeed to avoid an actual stall. Thus, knowing that buffet occurs around 5 knots before the stall is essential for safe flight operations.