Swept wings primarily lead to which consequence regarding flaps?

Swept wings lead to a reduction in the effectiveness of flaps primarily due to changes in airflow characteristics over the wing as it operates at higher angles of attack. When wings are swept back, the airflow over the wing is altered, and the high-speed airflow remains attached to the wing more efficiently at lower angles of attack. This can result in a stall occurring at a higher angle of attack than with straight wings, which impacts the way flaps generate lift.

Flaps are designed to increase lift by changing the camber and increasing the surface area of the wing. However, with swept wings, the flow separation can occur earlier, limiting the overall increase in lift that can be achieved through flap deployment. As a result, the anticipated lift benefit from deploying flaps on swept-wings aircraft is less effective compared to those with straight wings. This is an important consideration for pilots and engineers when designing and operating aircraft with swept-wing configurations.