Which statement about wing icing is true?

Which statement about wing icing is true?

• A. Icing increases lift
• B. Icing improves drag characteristics
• C. Icing reduces weight
• D. Icing negatively affects aerodynamics, reducing lift creation drastically

Answer: (D)

Wing icing harms performance because a layer of ice roughens the wing surface and adds mass. That roughness disturbed the smooth, attached airflow over the airfoil, causing the boundary layer to transition from laminar to turbulent earlier and to separate sooner. The result is a lower lift coefficient and a tendency to stall sooner, along with increased drag. So the statement that icing negatively affects aerodynamics, reducing lift production, captures the real impact of ice buildup. The other ideas—lift increasing, drag improving, or weight decreasing—don't fit how ice changes the wing's airflow and load.

Wing icing harms performance because a layer of ice roughens the wing surface and adds mass. That roughness disturbed the smooth, attached airflow over the airfoil, causing the boundary layer to transition from laminar to turbulent earlier and to separate sooner. The result is a lower lift coefficient and a tendency to stall sooner, along with increased drag. So the statement that icing negatively affects aerodynamics, reducing lift production, captures the real impact of ice buildup. The other ideas—lift increasing, drag improving, or weight decreasing—don't fit how ice changes the wing's airflow and load.