Slots and Slats

Slots and slats are examples of high lift devices. In aircraft design and aerospace engineering, a high-lift device is a component or mechanism on an aircraft’s wing that increases the amount of lift produced by the wing. The device may be a fixed component or a movable mechanism which is deployed when required. Common movable high-lift devices include wing flaps and slats. Fixed devices include leading-edge slots, leading-edge root extensions, and boundary layer control systems.

Slot

A leading-edge slot is a fixed aerodynamic feature of the wing of some aircraft to reduce the stall speed and promote good low-speed handling qualities. A leading-edge slot is a spanwise gap in each wing, allowing air to flow from below the wing to its upper surface. In this manner, they allow flight at higher angles of attack and thus reduce the stall speed.

Slat

Movable slats consist of leading-edge segments that move on tracks. Opening a slat allows the air below the wing to flow over the wing’s upper surface, delaying airflow separation improving lift and reducing the stall speed.