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 don’t slow the plane down by themselves. They expand the size of the wing, which increases the amount of lift being generated and *allows* the plane to fly at slower speeds without stalling. That’s why they’re extended during takeoff. You want to maximize lift so that you can take off in a shorter distance. Among other reasons, this lowers the chance of overrunning the runway.