I want that Stall Horn

[JRBarrett 3,115]

I did initial PPL flight training in both a Piper Warrior and a Cessna 172. The Piper had the tab-style stall sensor on the leading edge, while the Cessna had a pressure vent.

 

I much preferred the response of the Cessna's vent-style stall warning, especially when practicing slow flight, which is performed at high AOA, with full flaps and high engine power settings. The tab sensor on the Piper is a simple on/off switch, which does not activate until very close to the stall.

 

The vent-driven sensor on the Cessna had a broader "range". As the AOA increased, it would first make a momentary "chirp", then, when the pitch increased a bit more, the tone would sound at a relatively low volume. On the aircraft I flew, you could hold the AOA right at that point, with the tone sounding at low level, at absolute minimum controllable airspeed. Applying just a bit more back pressure, the sound would become louder, and the actual stall would occur.

 

In other words, the vent-style stall sensor gives more advanced warning that you are approaching a stall, than does the simple on/off switch of the tab-style sensor.