The Miscellaneous Speed Types for A GA Plane

Here is a swift description of the varied speed types you may hear of, or you may need to use or memorize, as far as the pilotage of a GA plane is concerned. Some of those speeds are given, for any craft, in the 'References' section of the kneeboard (F10). (by alphabetical order)

• Va. This is the 'maneuveral speed'. The maneuveral speed is the speed at which a pilot can perform a sharp command input without damaging the structure of the plane due to a too important G factor. That speed is the one too preconized when encountering turbulent air conditions. That speed, for a given GA plane, is given for varied loads of the plane. To know that speed is mostly useful to a pilot in that case of turbulences only, as a pilot usually flies his plane in such a way to avoid his plane to turn into unusual flight conditions
• Vfe. This is the 'maximal speed with a setting of flaps'. Usually, for a given plane, that speed is given for different values of flaps. The maximum speed with all flaps out is further reported unto the speed indicator gauge, under the form of the higher end of the white arc. Those speeds with such or such setting of flaps are to be memorized by a pilot. Any flight speed beyond the value may damage the flaps
• Vno. This is the 'maximal cruise speed authorized'. It is figured on the airspeed indicator by the end of the green arc. Never fly your plane, under average weather conditions beyond that speed for fear of structural damages to your plane
• Vne. This is the 'never to excede speed' for a given plane! Beyond that speed the plane may endure structural damages. That speed is materialized by the red mark figured on the airspeed indicator. Never fly your plane beyond that speed in any conditions! The range of speed between the end of the green arc and the Vne-red mark, materialized on the airspeed indicator through the yellow arc, is to use under calm-air conditions only
• Vs. This is the 'stall speed' of your plane, with a full load and no flaps. It is figured on the airspeed indicator through the lower end of the green arc. Under that speed, the plane will stall
• Vso. This is the 'stall speed' of your plane, with a full load and the whole of the flaps out. It's materialized at the airspeed indicator through the lower end of the white arc. You must be especially aware of that limit in the airport environment when you're flying a low speeds, and with flaps settings. The workload, at that moment, may do that you inadvertently let the speed comes down to that. A stall, at the low altitudes of the airport environment and maneuvers may prove lethal as you will not have any sufficient height to recover from the stall
• Vx. It is the 'best climb angle speed' for your plane. It is the speed which gives you the best altitude increase for a given ground distance. That speed is to be taken in consideration when some obstacle are lying relatively close to the runway's threshold, during a takeoff as giving your plane the pitch which leads to the Vx airspeed to be displayed at the airspeed indicator, will allow to a swiftier increase in altitude than the normal climb speed, and thus to overfly the obstacle with ease. The use of that airspeed however is to be cautious as Vx is not that far over the stall speed of the plane, at the lower end of the green arc!
• Vy. That speed is the 'best climb rate speed', which is the airspeed which will give you the best climb rate for a given time of flight. Pratically, that speed is somewhat lower than the usual climb speed of your plane, which, for a Cessna 172SP is the speed which matches a vertical climb rate of 700 ft/mn as shown at the vertical speed indicator (VSI). Vy, for a Cessna 172SP is at about 70 kts. Vy is of interest only when, for any reason, you need to reach your cruise altitude, for example, in a minimal timespan
• best glide speed. The best glide speed is the speed at which your plane, with the engine out, will fly the longer distance. That speed is of use in the emergency procedure applied in case of the failure of the plane's engine in flight. When giving your plane a descent pitch which leads to the display of that speed at the airspeed indicator, you will have the best gliding range radius to reach a emergency landing spot below! Albeit unusual on a GA plane due to their good maintenance, the best glide speed is always useful to be written on a road map, for example, to be at reach in case of some trouble. For any plane, the best glide speed translates, for a given altitude, into a given range of flight with the more the plane in altitude, the larger the glide range