What is the difference between Vs0 and Vs1?

Vs0 is the stall speed in the landing configuration, with full flaps and gear extended. Vs1 is the stall speed in a defined clean configuration, typically flaps and gear up. Vs0 is always lower than Vs1 because flaps increase lift at low speed.

Why is Va lower at lighter weights?

Maneuvering speed Va is the maximum speed at which full, abrupt control deflection will not overstress the airframe. A lighter aircraft accelerates upward more easily under the same load, so it reaches the structural g-limit sooner, which means Va decreases as weight decreases.

Are the typical values here exact for my aircraft?

No. The ranges shown are representative of common GA singles and light twins for study purposes only. Always use the V-speeds published in your specific aircraft's POH or AFM for actual flight operations.

What is the difference between V1 and Vr?

V1 is the takeoff decision speed for multi-engine aircraft, the last point at which you can reject the takeoff and stop on the remaining runway. Vr is rotation speed, where you raise the nose to lift off. V1 is at or below Vr.

What do the colored arcs on the airspeed indicator mean?

The white arc runs from Vs0 to Vfe (flap operating range). The green arc runs from Vs1 to Vno (normal operating range). The yellow arc from Vno to Vne is the caution range, flown only in smooth air, and the red line marks Vne, never exceed.

V-Speeds Reference & Explanation Tool

V-speeds are the standardized airspeed reference points every pilot must know. This tool collects the FAA-defined V-speeds into a single searchable glossary so student pilots can study and CFIs can build quick pre-flight briefings without flipping through a textbook.

How it works

Each V-speed is a named airspeed defined by FAR Part 1 and the aircraft’s type certification. The tool stores, for every code, its full name, a plain-English definition, a representative value range for GA singles and light twins, and the flight phase where it matters. Typing in the search box filters by code, name, definition text, or use case, so you can find a speed by what you remember about it rather than its exact abbreviation.

The colored arcs on a standard airspeed indicator are built directly from these speeds: the green arc spans Vs1 to Vno, the white (flap) arc spans Vs0 to Vfe, the yellow caution arc spans Vno to Vne, and the red radial line marks Vne.

Tips and notes

Memorize your own aircraft’s numbers from the POH — the ranges here are study aids, not operating limits. A useful mnemonic for the performance speeds is that Vx (best angle) clears obstacles in the shortest horizontal distance while Vy (best rate) gains the most altitude per minute; below a certain altitude Vx is slower than Vy. Remember that Va is weight-dependent and decreases as the aircraft gets lighter, which is why some POHs publish a small table of Va values.