Understanding V-Speeds | Vx, Vy, Va, Vs, Vfe, and More

How fast can that plane fly? Or, as pilots, we know to ask the more interesting question: How slow can that plane fly? 

But there are tons of other speeds that pilots need to know to operate their airplanes safely — questions that pop up from the first moments of flight.

What speed do I rotate on takeoff?

What speed do I climb at?

What speed do I fly at if I want to do maneuvers?

At what speed should I approach the runway?

Everything we do as pilots is, in one way or another, dictated by the airspeed limitations of our aircraft.

Pilots call all these speeds (the important ones, at least) v-speeds. Here’s a look at them, including the vital and interesting ones for different types of planes. 

What Are V-Speeds?

You can think of V as standing for velocity or the French word “vitesse” (speed).

V-speeds are simply important speeds you need to know about your aircraft.

Many v-speeds are constant for the plane and appear on the airspeed indicator or placards in the cockpit. Other limitations can be found in the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) or Pilots Operating Handbook (POH).

Some are constant, but many change with conditions (density altitude) or loading (weight and balance).

One of the first steps in learning to fly any new plane is memorizing its v-speeds. It’s just part of getting to know your new plane!

V-Speed	Description
Vx	Best angle of climb speed. The speed at which the aircraft gains the most altitude in the shortest horizontal distance.
Vy	Best rate of climb speed. The speed at which the aircraft gains the most altitude in the shortest amount of time.
Va	Maneuvering speed. The maximum speed at which full, abrupt control movements can be made without overstressing the airframe.
Vs	Stall speed or minimum steady flight speed at which the aircraft is controllable.
Vso	Stall speed or minimum flight speed in landing configuration.
Vsi	Stall speed in a specified configuration.
Vfe	Maximum flap extended speed. The highest speed permissible with wing flaps in a prescribed extended position.
Vno	Maximum structural cruising speed. The speed that should not be exceeded except in smooth air and with caution.
Vne	Never exceed speed. The maximum speed at which the aircraft should never be operated.
Vmc	Minimum control speed with the critical engine inoperative.
V1	Takeoff decision speed. The speed beyond which takeoff should no longer be aborted.
VR	Rotation speed. The speed at which the pilot begins to apply control inputs to lift the nose wheel off the ground during takeoff.
V2	Takeoff safety speed. The speed at which the aircraft can safely climb with one engine inoperative.
Vmu	Minimum unstick speed.
Vlo	Maximum landing gear operation speed.
Vle	Maximum landing gear extended speed.
Vref	Landing reference speed. The speed at which the aircraft should be flown over the runway threshold in landing configuration.
Vh	Maximum level flight speed.
Vc	Design cruising speed.
Vs1	Stall speed or minimum steady flight speed in a specific configuration.
Vbg	Best glide speed.
Vse	Safe single-engine speed.
Vtoss	Takeoff safety speed for helicopters.

Limitation V-Speeds for Every Plane

All airplanes have some basic limitations put on them. These speeds are recorded as part of the certification process; they must be marked on the airspeed indicator or, as with Va, placarded within the pilot’s view. 

Va — Maneuvering Speed

Maneuvering speed is one of the most important v-speeds, but it’s also one of the harder speeds to understand. It’s not marked on the airspeed indicator because it changes with the plane’s weight.

In a nutshell, Va is a safety speed.

If you are operating below Va and encounter a sudden and dangerous increase in load factor (from turbulence or sudden control deflections), then the plane will stall, but damage will not result.

If the plane is flying above Va and the same thing happens, structural damage will occur. 

Vno — Maximum Structural Cruising Speed

Vno is marked on the airspeed indicator at the point where the green arc meets the yellow arc. This is the maximum safe speed you should cruise in rough air. 

Vne — Maximum Speed (Never Exceed Speed)

Vne is marked with a red radial line at the top end of the yellow arc on the airspeed indicator. If you exceed this, the amount of drag produced is enough to damage the aircraft. 

Vfe — Maximum Speed with Flaps Extended

The flaps are not designed to operate at unlimited airspeeds. Vfe is the maximum speed at which you can have them down. 

There are some nuances, however. Many planes allow you to put the “first notch” of flaps in at a higher speed than the rest.

Vfe for full flaps is shown on the ASI by the upper end of the white arc.

The specifics for each setting are always found in the Aircraft Flight Manual — and should also be marked on the panel near the flap lever.

Performance-Based V-Speeds 

Here are some speeds that aren’t necessarily put on the airspeed dial but that you should know nonetheless. They’re found in the Airplane Flight Manual. 

Vs — Stall Speed

Generically, the speed at which an airplane stalls is called Vs.

But, as planes have become more complex, there are several stall speeds that are more specific for different configurations: flaps up or flaps down for small-plane private pilot stalls. 

Vs0 — Stall Speed in Landing Configuration

Often called stall speed ‘dirty’ or stall speed ‘stuff out,’ Vs0 is the plane’s stall speed with full flaps and landing gear extended. It’s shown on the airspeed indicator by the bottom end of the white arc. 

Vs1 — Stall Speed in Takeoff Configuration

Sometimes called stall speed ‘clean’ or ‘stuff in,’ this is the speed at which the plane will stall when the flaps are up. 

Vr — Rotation Speed

The speed at which the pilot should rotate on takeoff. 

Vx — Best Angle of Climb

The speed that provides the most altitude gain in the shortest distance over the ground. It’s only used for high-performance, short-field takeoffs when it’s vital to clear an obstacle at the end of the runway.

Vy — Best Rate of Climb

The speed that provides the most altitude gain in an amount of time, i.e., the most feet per minute. 

Vg — Best Glide Speed

The speed to maintain immediately following an engine failure. It provides the least amount of altitude loss during a glide. 

The speed is found by finding the speed at which the plane makes the least amount of drag. It changes with aircraft weight and is therefore not shown on the airspeed indicator.

Vref — Reference Speed for Approach

Vref is short for “reference speed” and is used when planning aircraft approaches. Vref is typically calculated as 1.3 times Vso. Jets calculate it from performance charts.

Extra V-Speeds for Complex Airplanes

The more complex an aircraft’s systems, the more v-speed you may have to learn. Most will be placarded on the aircraft panel. For example, landing gear operating speeds should be marked near the gear lever. 

Vlo  — Max Landing Gear Operating Speed

The maximum speed at which you can operate your landing gear. Some planes have different speeds, a maximum for extending them and a different maximum for retracting them. It all depends on the mechanics of how the system works.

Vle — Max Landing Gear Extended Speed

The maximum speed you can fly with the landing gear extended. 

Other speeds:

Vabe/Vabo — Airbrake Extension and Operating Speeds

Vlle/Vllo — Landing Light Extension and Operating Speeds

Vwwo — Max Windshield Wiper Operating Speed

Twin Engine V-Speeds

Getting your multiengine rating is all about learning to deal with an engine failure. This includes three new v-speeds.

Vmc — Minimum Controllable Airspeed

A twin-engine airplane cannot maintain directional control after an engine failure unless sufficient airspeed is maintained. If you operate on one engine below Vmc, there will not be enough air flowing over the rudder to hold a course, and the aircraft will become uncontrollable. 

Vmc is shown on the airspeed indicator by a red radial line on the low end, opposite the Vne line on the high end.

Vyse —  Best Single-Engine Rate of Climb

The best rate of climb after an engine has failed. Vyse is shown on the airspeed indicator by a blue radial line in planes less than 12,500 pounds.

Vxse — Best Single-Engine Angle of Climb

The best angle of climb on a single engine is Vxse. Like Vx, it’s only used when maximum performance is required to clear an obstacle.

Vsse — Minimum Safe Single Engine Speed

A speed used for training in light twins. It provides a margin of error to guard against unintentional stalls when cutting an engine for training purposes.

Turbine and High-Performance V-Speeds

Turbine aircraft more often measure their cruising speeds in terms of Mach numbers. Mach numbers are references to the speed of sound (Mach 1.0), which changes with altitude. As these aircraft climb, Mach numbers remain constant, whereas V-speeds measured in knots would be changing.

Vmu/Mmu — Minimum Unstick Speed (Knots or Mach number)

The slowest airspeed an aircraft can become airborne (rotate). Jets will calculate their rotation speed for every flight based on conditions and loading.

V1 — Takeoff Decision Speed

A calculated speed for every takeoff and a required cockpit callout. Once V1 has passed, the aircraft is “committed” and shall continue takeoff, even if an engine fails. 

V2 — Takeoff Safety Speed

V2 provides the best performance immediately after takeoff in the event of an engine failure. Planes keep this speed until they pass at least 400 feet AGL. Like V1, it is calculated before each departure for conditions and loading.

V2min — Minimum Takeoff Safety Speed

The minimum V2 speed of the aircraft. It is usually 1.2 times Vs1. 

Vmo/Mmo — Maximum Operating Speed (Knots or Mach number)

A speed limit on an aircraft due to the build-up of supersonic airflow around the wings. Operating in excess of Vmo/Mmo risks structural damage, and shockwaves can make the aircraft uncontrollable.