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Aviation glossary

Best Angle Of Climb Speed

What is best angle of climb speed?

Best angle of climb speed is the airspeed that produces the greatest gain in altitude over a given horizontal distance. Because it prioritizes height gained per distance traveled, it's used to clear obstacles after takeoff. In a light, twin-engine airplane with one engine inoperative, this becomes a critical reference speed for maximizing climb performance over ground covered. Think of it as the speed for "up the steepest"—best when there's a tree or tower ahead.

Also known as: Vx, best angle-of-climb speed, Vxse (single-engine best angle of climb)

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