# Manoeuvring Envelope (V-n Diagram)

> The flight envelope defined by speed and load factor limits.

- **Subject:** 081 — Principles of Flight
- **Section:** 081-06 — Limitations
- **Topic code:** 081-06-02
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-04-01
- **Author:** Pablo Asensio Martínez
- **HTML version:** https://pilotsyllabus.com/en/principles-of-flight/limitations/manoeuvring-envelope/

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## The V-n Diagram
A graph plotting **Load Factor (n)** on the Y-axis vs **Airspeed (V)** on the X-axis.

## Boundaries
1.  **Stall Limit (High Lift Limit)**: The curved line on the left. The aircraft creates maximum lift at $C_{Lmax}$. You cannot pull more gs than this line allows (the wing will stall).
2.  **Structural Limit (Limit Load)**: The flat top/bottom lines (e.g., +2.5g or +3.8g). Exceeding this causes permanent deformation.
3.  **Ultimate Load**: Usually 1.5x the Limit Load. The point of structural failure.

## Corner Speed (Va)
The intersection of the **Stall Limit** line and the **Structural Limit** line.
*   At $V_A$, the aircraft stalls just as it hits the limit load factor.
*   It is the fastest speed at which the aircraft will stall before it breaks.
*   Formula: $V_A = V_{S1} \sqrt{n_{limit}}$

## High Speed Limits
*   **Vne / Vd**: The vertical line on the right defining the maximum speed.

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