Which statement correctly differentiates Vs and Vne?

• A. Vs is the maximum stall speed; Vne is the minimum speed to avoid stall.
• B. Vs is the minimum steady flight speed before stall; Vne is the maximum speed not to be exceeded without risking structural damage.
• C. Vs is faster than Vne in all situations.
• D. Vs and Vne are the same value at all weights.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is understanding two different speed limits: stall speed versus never-exceed speed. Vs is the minimum steady flight speed at which the airplane can remain in level flight without stalling, for the current weight and configuration. If you fly any slower, the wing can no longer generate enough lift and the airplane stalls. Vne is the maximum speed you must not exceed because higher speeds can impose stresses that the structure isn’t designed to safely handle, risking structural damage or failure. So the correct statement links Vs to the minimum speed to avoid stall and Vne to the maximum safe speed to avoid damage. The other options mix up which speed corresponds to stall versus structural limits and ignore how weight and configuration affect these values.