Definition
The airspeed at which a maneuver is begun, established before the maneuver is initiated and selected so the airplane remains within its structural and performance limits throughout. For steep turns, entry speed is at or below the manufacturer's recommended speed, and never above maneuvering speed (VA).
Plain English
The speed you set the airplane at before you start a maneuver. You stabilize at this speed first, then begin the maneuver from there.
Context Anchor
Used in steep-turn training before the pilot begins the turn: establish the assigned speed, then smoothly bank the airplane into the maneuver.
Why Pilots Care
Correct entry speed keeps the load factor within limits and prevents an accelerated stall as the bank increases.
Intuition Check
Entry speed does not mean the speed for entering an airport pattern or runway area. Here it means the speed set before entering a specific flight maneuver.
Example Sentence 1
Before rolling into the steep turn, the student stabilized at the recommended entry speed and trimmed the airplane.
Example Sentence 2
Establishing the correct entry speed first lets the airplane maintain altitude and airspeed throughout the steep turn.