Definition
VLE is the maximum speed at which an aircraft can be safely flown with the landing gear in the fully extended (down) position. Exceeding VLE risks structural damage to the gear, gear doors, and surrounding airframe due to aerodynamic loads.
Plain English
The fastest you are allowed to fly with the wheels already locked down.
Context Anchor
Seen in the aircraft flight manual, pilot’s operating handbook, cockpit placards, and airspeed limitation discussions.
Derivation
From the French vitesse, meaning speed, plus L for landing gear and E for extended. Most V-speed codes follow this pattern: V plus letters describing the condition.
Why Pilots Care
Exceeding VLE risks structural damage to the landing gear doors, actuators, or fairings.
Intuition Check
“Extended” does not mean the flight is longer here. It means the landing gear is down and out of the aircraft, ready for landing.
Example Sentence 1
After lowering the gear on the descent, the pilot kept the airspeed below VLE all the way to the final approach fix.
Example Sentence 2
The checklist reminded the crew to observe VLE when extending the gear in turbulence.