Slats are extendable devices located on the leading edge of some fixed-wing aircraft. They play a crucial role in enhancing lift during low-speed phases like takeoff, climb, approach, and landing. By deploying outward and drooping downward, slats increase both the wing’s surface area and its camber. This design contrasts with Krueger flaps, which extend panels forward from the wing’s lower surface to boost camber. Slats usually have multiple positions and extend progressively alongside flap deployment. Most often, they are operated by hydraulically or electrically powered actuators. However, simpler designs may rely on aerodynamic forces to stay retracted, using springs or counterweights for automatic extension at low speeds and high angles of attack.
