What do the typical V-speeds represent, such as Vs, Vno, and Vne?

• A. Vs is stall speed in configured state; Vno is maximum structural cruising speed; Vne is never-exceed speed.
• B. Vs is maximum structural cruising speed; Vno is stall speed; Vne is best glide speed.
• C. Vs is approach speed; Vno is maximum crosswind; Vne is minimum speed.
• D. Vs is takeoff speed; Vno is glide speed; Vne is best angle of climb.

Answer: (A)

These V-speeds define the airplane’s flight envelope: the limits for safe, controlled flight. Vs is the stall speed in the current configuration—the minimum steady speed at which the wings can produce enough lift to hold the aircraft in level flight. If you fly slower than this, the wing can no longer sustain lift and a stall occurs.

Vno is the maximum structural cruising speed—the upper limit for normal, turbulence-tolerant flight. It’s the speed range where the airframe is designed to handle the loads you’ll encounter in typical operations; going faster means greater structural stress and reduced margin in rough air.

Vne is the never-exceed speed—the redline. Exceeding this speed risks catastrophic structural failure or loss of control, so it must never be reached or surpassed.

The other options mix up these roles: stall speed isn’t the maximum cruising speed, and Vno isn’t stall speed or a glide/best-angle figure.