No, flaps increase CL. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Figure-1-4-Effect-of-flap-and-slat-on-lift-coefficient-13_fig1_331718321 https://www.researchgate.net

No, flaps increase CL. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Figure-1-4-Effect-of-flap-and-slat-on-lift-coefficient-13_fig1_331718321 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Figure-1-4-Effect-of-fla... You might be thinking of total lift on a 3D wing, which is something you alluded to re: wing loading. But 3d wings vs 2d airfoils are really different concepts that you seem to be mixing up. Airfoils are advantageous regardless of wing loading (which is an inherently 3d concept) because of better L/D and stall characteristics.