eli5 why are flaps extended during takeoff if they slow down the plane?

Question

eli5 why are flaps extended during takeoff if they slow down the plane?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Flaps are for extra lift so the airplane can take off easier. This is because they make the wing “bigger”. Depending on how long the runway is and the weather/temperature outside, an airplane may need to use a higher flaps setting. They also allow a plane to fly slower while maintaining lift when approaching a runway.

Now, they technically do slow the plane down due to drag but it’s more like they impose a maximum speed it can fly when extended. Spoilers on the other hand would be what actually slows the aircraft down.