Contact|RisingUp Home


Federal Aviation Regulations

Sec. 25.335 — Design airspeeds.

The selected design airspeeds are equivalent airspeeds (EAS). Estimated values of V S0and V S1must be conservative.

(a) Design cruising speed, V C.For V C,the following apply:

(1) The minimum value of V Cmust be sufficiently greater than V Bto provide for inadvertent speed increases likely to occur as a result of severe atmospheric turbulence.

(2) Except as provided in §25.335(d)(2), VCmay not be less than VB+ 1.32 UREF(with UREFas specified in §25.341(a)(5)(i)). However VCneed not exceed the maximum speed in level flight at maximum continuous power for the corresponding altitude.

(3) At altitudes where V Dis limited by Mach number, V Cmay be limited to a selected Mach number.

(b) Design dive speed, V D. V Dmust be selected so that V C/ M Cis not greater than 0.8 V D/ M D,or so that the minimum speed margin between V C/ M Cand V D/ M Dis the greater of the following values:

(1) From an initial condition of stabilized flight at V C/ M C,the airplane is upset, flown for 20 seconds along a flight path 7.5° below the initial path, and then pulled up at a load factor of 1.5 g (0.5 g acceleration increment). The speed increase occurring in this maneuver may be calculated if reliable or conservative aerodynamic data is used. Power as specified in §25.175(b)(1)(iv) is assumed until the pullup is initiated, at which time power reduction and the use of pilot controlled drag devices may be assumed;

(2) The minimum speed margin must be enough to provide for atmospheric variations (such as horizontal gusts, and penetration of jet streams and cold fronts) and for instrument errors and airframe production variations. These factors may be considered on a probability basis. The margin at altitude where MCis limited by compressibility effects must not less than 0.07M unless a lower margin is determined using a rational analysis that includes the effects of any automatic systems. In any case, the margin may not be reduced to less than 0.05M.

(c) Design maneuvering speed V A.For V A,the following apply:

(1) VAmay not be less than VS1√n where—

(i) n is the limit positive maneuvering load factor at V C; and

(ii) V S1is the stalling speed with flaps retracted.

(2) V Aand V Smust be evaluated at the design weight and altitude under consideration.

(3) V Aneed not be more than V Cor the speed at which the positive C N maxcurve intersects the positive maneuver load factor line, whichever is less.

(d) Design speed for maximum gust intensity, V B.

(1) VBmay not be less than



where—

VS1=the 1-g stalling speed based on CNAmaxwith the flaps retracted at the particular weight under consideration;

Vc=design cruise speed (knots equivalent airspeed);

Uref=the reference gust velocity (feet per second equivalent airspeed) from §25.341(a)(5)(i);

w=average wing loading (pounds per square foot) at the particular weight under consideration.



ρ=density of air (slugs/ft3 );

c=mean geometric chord of the wing (feet);

g=acceleration due to gravity (ft/sec2 );

a=slope of the airplane normal force coefficient curve, CNAper radian;

(2) At altitudes where VCis limited by Mach number—

(i) VBmay be chosen to provide an optimum margin between low and high speed buffet boundaries; and,

(ii) VBneed not be greater than VC.

(e) Design flap speeds, V F.For V F,the following apply:

(1) The design flap speed for each flap position (established in accordance with §25.697(a)) must be sufficiently greater than the operating speed recommended for the corresponding stage of flight (including balked landings) to allow for probable variations in control of airspeed and for transition from one flap position to another.

(2) If an automatic flap positioning or load limiting device is used, the speeds and corresponding flap positions programmed or allowed by the device may be used.

(3) V Fmay not be less than—

(i) 1.6 V S1with the flaps in takeoff position at maximum takeoff weight;

(ii) 1.8 V S1with the flaps in approach position at maximum landing weight, and

(iii) 1.8 V S0with the flaps in landing position at maximum landing weight.

(f) Design drag device speeds, V DD.The selected design speed for each drag device must be sufficiently greater than the speed recommended for the operation of the device to allow for probable variations in speed control. For drag devices intended for use in high speed descents, V DDmay not be less than V D.When an automatic drag device positioning or load limiting means is used, the speeds and corresponding drag device positions programmed or allowed by the automatic means must be used for design.

[Doc. No. 5066, 29 FR 18291, Dec. 24, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 25–23, 35 FR 5672, Apr. 8, 1970; Amdt. 25–86, 61 FR 5220, Feb. 9, 1996; Amdt. 25–91, 62 FR 40704, July 29, 1997]

NEXT: Sec. 25.337 - Limit maneuvering load factors.
PREVIOUS: Sec. 25.333 - Flight maneuvering envelope.

Search the FARS for