What is the function of flaps during landing?

The function of flaps during landing is primarily to increase lift at lower speeds and decrease landing distance. Flaps extend from the wings of the aircraft, altering their shape to effectively enhance the wing's ability to generate lift at slower airspeeds. This is particularly crucial during landing, as aircraft are typically flying at lower speeds.

By increasing the lift, flaps allow the aircraft to maintain controlled flight while approaching the runway without requiring a higher airspeed. This capability enables pilots to safely lower their descent rate and approach at a slower speed, thus shortening the required landing distance. The enhanced lift helps the aircraft to stay airborne longer while managing the approach and touchdown phase more effectively, making landing smoother and safer.

In contrast, other options do not accurately describe the primary purpose of flaps. For example, decreasing drag and increasing speed contradicts the function of flaps during landing, as the deployment of flaps typically increases drag to improve control. Similarly, stabilizing the aircraft during turbulent conditions is not a direct function of flaps; instead, it is more about managing airflow and stability with other control surfaces. Finally, assisting in climb performance after takeoff does not pertain to flaps' role during landing—flaps are generally retracted after take