Definition
The airspeed recommended by the airplane manufacturer for the final approach segment of a normal landing, typically expressed as a multiple of the stall speed in the landing configuration (commonly around 1.3 times Vso). It provides a margin above stall while keeping the airplane slow enough to land within a reasonable distance.
Plain English
The speed the manufacturer says to fly on final approach for a regular landing. It's slow enough to land safely but fast enough to stay well clear of a stall.
Context Anchor
You encounter this in landing practice and in power-off stall training, where the airplane is first slowed and set up as if it were on a normal landing approach.
Derivation
Normal comes from a Latin word meaning a rule or standard. In this term, normal means the standard or recommended approach speed, not just an average or comfortable speed.
Why Pilots Care
Maintaining this speed gives the required margin above stall while allowing a controlled touchdown without excessive float or a hard landing.
Intuition Check
Do not read normal as casual, approximate, or whatever feels right. Here it means the standard approach speed recommended or taught for that airplane in that landing setup.
Example Sentence 1
On final, the pilot stabilized the airplane at the normal approach speed listed in the POH before crossing the runway threshold.
Example Sentence 2
Check the POH to confirm the normal approach speed for your airplane's current weight and flap setting.