What is a disadvantage of a swept wing design?

A swept wing design has several characteristics due to the angle at which the wings are set relative to the fuselage. One of the significant disadvantages is the stall behavior it promotes. Specifically, a swept wing typically experiences stall progression from the root to the wing tips. This means that during a stall, the wing root (the part closest to the fuselage) will lose lift and stall first before the wingtips do.

This phenomenon can lead to increased difficulty in handling and recovery during stalls since the aircraft may exhibit unpredictable behavior; pilots may not be aware that the wing tips are still generating lift while the root has already stalled, which can impede the pilot's ability to control the aircraft effectively. This creates a risk of a sudden and potentially dangerous loss of control if not managed properly.

In contrast, alternatives such as straight wings tend to stall evenly across the entire span, offering more predictable handling characteristics, especially at lower speeds. Therefore, the statement about stall progression in swept wing designs accurately captures one of the primary disadvantages that can affect the handling and performance of an aircraft equipped with this design.