Which aspect of rectangular wings contributes to their stall characteristics?

Rectangular wings are characterized by their specific shape and planform, which significantly impact their stall characteristics. The shape of the wing influences how air flows over it, and the planform refers to the outline shape of the wing when viewed from above.

With rectangular wings, the relatively simple geometry allows for a more uniform distribution of lift across the span, but it can also lead to stalls occurring at the wingtips first when the angle of attack increases beyond the critical point. This is because the airflow over the tips can separate more readily than over the center of the wing, leading to a premature stall.

Moreover, the stall characteristics of a rectangular wing are affected by how airflow behaves along the entire span of the wing. As the wing approaches its critical angle of attack, the stall can propagate from the tips inward due to the difference in airflow quality, making the interaction between the wing's shape and the accompanying airflow critical.

Although other factors such as the angle of attack and material composition do contribute to overall performance and stall behavior, it is the unique characteristics of the wing shape and planform that fundamentally determine the stall characteristics inherent to rectangular wings.