What are the Cessna 172 V-speeds and what do they mean?
For a Cessna 172S at maximum take-off weight, the principal V-speeds are VS0 40 KIAS, VS1 48, VX 62 at sea level, VY 74 at sea level, VA 105, VFE 85 or 110 by flap setting, VNO 129 and VNE 163. The aircraft’s POH is the controlling source.
In our Aviation & Real-World Flying answers, we treat these as reference figures rather than a universal Cessna 172 checklist. The 172 family covers numerous models, weights and instrument configurations, so the Pilot’s Operating Handbook for the exact aircraft always takes priority.
Cessna 172S V-speed chart
The following Cessna 172S speeds apply at the stated weight, altitude and configuration; they are not interchangeable targets for every phase of flight.
| Speed | Cessna 172S reference | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| VS0 | 40 KIAS | Stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration. This is the bottom of the white arc, not an approach-speed target. |
| VS1 | 48 KIAS | Stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed in the specified clean configuration. It forms the lower end of the green arc. |
| VX | 62 KIAS at sea level; 67 KIAS at 10,000 ft | Best angle-of-climb speed, giving the greatest altitude gain per horizontal distance. It is used when obstacle clearance is the priority. |
| VY | 74 KIAS at sea level; 72 KIAS at 10,000 ft | Best rate-of-climb speed, giving the greatest altitude gain per unit of time. |
| VA | 105 KIAS at 2,550 lb; 98 at 2,200 lb; 90 at 1,900 lb | Design manoeuvring speed. The correct value decreases as aircraft weight decreases. |
| VFE | 110 KIAS with 10° flap; 85 KIAS before extending beyond 10° | Maximum flap-extended speed. The first 10° can be used at a higher speed than larger flap settings. |
| VNO | 129 KIAS | Maximum structural cruising speed and the top of the green arc. Fly in the yellow arc only in smooth air and with caution. |
| VNE | 163 KIAS | Never-exceed speed, shown by the red line. It must not be exceeded. |
| Best glide | 68 KIAS at 2,550 lb | Recommended flaps-up glide speed for maximum distance in still air. It decreases at lower weights. |
The white and green arcs are operating ranges, not commands to fly at their lower limits. Our explanation of the Cessna 172 airspeed indicator and its colour arcs shows how these markings relate to flap and structural limits.
VA is often misunderstood. At or below VA, one full, abrupt control input in one axis should produce an aerodynamic stall before the design load limit is exceeded. It does not protect against repeated, reversed or combined inputs, and the 105 KIAS figure is wrong when the aircraft is substantially below maximum weight.
A fixed-gear 172 has no landing-gear extension or operating speeds such as VLE and VLO. For those and other codes used by different aircraft, see our guide to general aviation V-speed terminology.
Why do Cessna 172 V-speeds vary by model?
Cessna 172 V-speeds vary because model variants have different maximum weights, flap systems, aerodynamic details and certification data.
A representative 172N at 2,300 lb, for example, commonly publishes VS0 41 KIAS, VS1 47, VA 97, VFE 85, VNO 128 and VNE 160. Those figures are close to the 172S numbers, but close is not the same as approved. Some earlier aircraft also have airspeed indicators and manuals based primarily on miles per hour rather than knots.
Use the limitations, normal-procedures and emergency-procedures sections of the aircraft’s own POH. An approved flight-manual supplement or cockpit placard may supersede the baseline figures after an aerodynamic or weight-related modification.
Are Cessna 172 V-speeds IAS or groundspeed?
Cessna 172 V-speeds are flown using indicated airspeed, expressed as KIAS when the manual uses knots—not GPS groundspeed or calculated true airspeed.
This matters most in strong wind and at high density altitude. A 62 KIAS indication can correspond to very different groundspeeds, yet the wing responds to airflow rather than movement over the ground. Our comparison of indicated airspeed and other speed references explains why the cockpit indication controls these limits.
Altitude still affects published VX and VY: in the 172S, VX rises from 62 to 67 KIAS between sea level and 10,000 ft, while VY falls from 74 to 72 KIAS. Weight, flap position, bank angle, contamination and load factor also affect stall behaviour.
Is 55 KIAS the Cessna 172 rotation speed?
For a normal Cessna 172S take-off, 55 KIAS is the published speed at which to lift the nose wheel, although pilots commonly call it VR rather than treating it as a formal limitation speed.
- Normal take-off: lift the nose wheel at 55 KIAS, then use the POH’s normal climb range of 70–80 KIAS.
- Short-field take-off: with 10° flap, the 172S procedure specifies 56 KIAS at 50 ft; this is a configuration-specific performance target.
- Normal landing: typical 172S approach guidance is 60–70 KIAS with full flap, while the short-field procedure uses 62 KIAS. VS0 is not the approach speed.
The aircraft slows further during the flare, so approach speed and touchdown speed are not the same. We cover that distinction, including weight and flap effects, in our Cessna 172 landing-speed reference.
A Cessna 172 does not use transport-category take-off speeds such as V1 and V2, and its normal procedures do not generally present a transport-style VREF target.
How do I choose the right Cessna 172 speeds?
Use the figures published for the exact model, weight, configuration and altitude rather than copying a generic Cessna 172 V-speed card.
- Identify the aircraft: establish whether it is a 172N, 172R, 172S or another variant, together with its approved maximum weight.
- Check the controlling documents: read the aircraft’s POH, supplements and placards instead of relying on an online list.
- Match the conditions: apply the published weight correction for VA and best glide, the altitude correction for VX and VY, and the correct VFE for the selected flap position.
- Confirm the units: distinguish KIAS from MPH, true airspeed and GPS groundspeed. In a simulator, make sure the checklist belongs to the model actually loaded.
Common Cessna 172 V-speed mistakes
The most consequential mistakes come from applying a correct number in the wrong configuration.
- Using 110 KIAS as the limit for all flap settings instead of slowing to 85 KIAS before selecting more than 10°.
- Using the maximum-weight VA when the aircraft is lighter.
- Trying to approach at the 40 KIAS VS0 figure rather than the published approach speed.
- Chasing a GPS groundspeed instead of holding the required indicated airspeed.
- Copying 172S figures into an older 172 whose POH publishes different limits or different units.