Definition
The minimum airspeed at which a multi-engine transport-category airplane can safely continue the takeoff and initial climb after losing one engine at or after V1, while maintaining the required climb gradient with the critical engine inoperative. V2 must be reached by the time the airplane is 35 feet above the runway surface and is held during the initial climb segment until a safe maneuvering altitude is reached.
Plain English
The slowest speed at which the airplane can safely keep climbing after takeoff if one engine has failed. The pilot aims to be at this speed by the time the wheels are about 35 feet off the runway, and holds it through the early part of the climb.
Context Anchor
Seen in takeoff performance planning, multiengine training, and cockpit callouts before and just after takeoff.
Derivation
The 'V' in V-speeds comes from the French 'vitesse,' meaning speed. The '2' marks it as the second key reference speed in the takeoff sequence, after V1 (decision speed) and Vr (rotation speed).
Why Pilots Care
It guarantees a safe climb path after an engine failure during the most critical phase of flight.
Intuition Check
V2 is not the speed where the pilot starts lifting the nose for takeoff. It is the safe climb speed used after liftoff, especially for an engine-failure situation.
Example Sentence 1
After rotation, the captain pitched up to capture V2 by 35 feet, ready to hold it if an engine failed.
Example Sentence 2
Takeoff distance calculations include the distance needed to reach V2 at 35 feet with one engine out.