There's a very
important letter that every pilot-in-training needs to learn about--the letter V, short for velocity. V-speeds are derived from aircraft designers and manufacturers during flight testing. Heeding to the limits of V-speeds maximizes aircraft performance and safety. The FAA has designated at least 35 different V-speeds. All of them are important, but there are six that every pilot must master.
For
instance, according to the FAA manual, VR is the speed required to get a plane airborne in a reliable, predictable fashion.
VS refers to the plane's stalling speed. One knot higher and you're flying. One knot lower and you aren't flying.
VA is often called the plane's "design maneuvering speed." Given rough flying conditions, exceeding the VA speed can cause structural damage to the plane. It essentially implies a warning: slow down, or cool it.
VNO is
self-explanatory. It corresponds to the upper limit of the plane's airspeed in smooth air conditions.
Finally, there's the velocity classification known as VNE, which essentially stands for "Never," as in, "Don't even think of going there!" VNE is the absolute, never-to-be-exceeded limit for your aircraft. A July 2012 article in Flight
Training magazine explained why you should never break the limits of VNE:
The manufacturer, its engineering staff, and the test pilots who brought the airplane to market are all in agreement: You should never attempt to fly your airplane faster than VNE for any reason. Even the color code--a red line on the airspeed indicator--says stop. So
take their word for it.*
