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AerodynamicsQuestion 480 of 934

How does a thin layer of ice on the upper wing surface affect the airplane?

  1. It increases lift and reduces drag
  2. It lowers the weight of the airplane
  3. It has no effect if the layer is thin
  4. It increases drag and reduces lift
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Correct answer: It increases drag and reduces lift

As little as 0.8 millimeter of ice on the upper wing surface increases drag and reduces lift by 25 percent.

Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 5: Aerodynamics of Flight — Stalls, page 123

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026