Airspeed Limits

Your instructor will teach or has taught you all about important airspeeds all important airspeeds for your aircraft should be in the POH.

Forces & Load Factors

Remember incorrect airspeeds can cause the aircraft to crash or fail from forces beyond its design strengths.

Most aircraft have published load limit factors in the POH and sometimes in the cockpit on placards. Every aircraft has them and you as the pilot must know them prior to flying that aircraft.

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Remember from previous lessons load factors are related to bank angle. Pulling back on the elevator can increase the load factor significantly during turns. Controls should be used sensibly during all manoeuvres in RAA aircraft. Never fly in ways you have not been trained to do so. Sudden extreme control movements produce high forces.

Airspeeds & ASI

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*These are often in exams

**Vne – never exceed speed under any circumstances – (red line )

*Vno -max speed for normal operations – aka max cruise speed in normal conditions (top of green to top of white arc)

*Va -max manoeuvre speed –  max speed at which full deflection of controls can be made without damaging the airframe – note this does not mean it can be sudden (usually in the POH or on a placard)

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Vb – turbulence penetration speed – in turbulence too much speed over stresses the aircraft, too low a speed increases the chances of losing control. If not published use Va

*Vfe – max flap extension speed – having flaps down at high speeds may damage or break flaps or wings. (top of  white arc)

**Vs1 – Stall speed with no flaps (bottom of green arc) – very important to know this

*Vso – Stall speed with flaps down (bottom of white arc) – very important to know this