Definition
The airspeed flown immediately after liftoff during the climb-out phase of takeoff, established by the manufacturer to provide the best combination of climb performance, obstacle clearance, and safe handling margin above the stall. The specific target speed depends on the takeoff scenario — typically VX (best angle of climb) for short-field takeoffs with obstacles, or VY (best rate of climb) for normal takeoffs.
Plain English
The speed you fly right after the wheels leave the ground, while you are climbing away from the runway. The airplane's manual tells you what this speed should be, and it changes depending on whether you need to climb steeply over something or just get up to altitude quickly.
Context Anchor
Used in short-field takeoff procedures just after liftoff, when the airplane is beginning to climb away from the runway.
Why Pilots Care
Using the correct initial climb speed maximizes obstacle clearance on short or obstructed runways; deviating from it reduces climb performance and can lead to a collision hazard.
Intuition Check
Initial climb speed does not mean any speed you happen to have at the start of the climb. It means the specific target speed called for by the airplane’s procedure for the first part of the climb.
Example Sentence 1
After liftoff, the pilot pitched for the initial climb speed of 56 knots to clear the trees off the end of the runway.
Example Sentence 2
The initial climb speed is flown with full power and a higher pitch attitude than the normal climb speed used once obstacles are cleared.