Which value is shared by Vyse and Vxse?

• A. 120 knots
• B. 130 knots
• C. 115 knots
• D. 125 knots

Answer: (D)

Vyse and Vxse are climb performance speeds for the same aircraft under the given configuration. Vyse is the speed that gives the maximum rate of climb, while Vxse is the speed that gives the maximum angle of climb, both at sea level standard conditions in this context.

Under the specific weight and power setting described, the drag and lift forces, along with engine power, line up so that the speed that yields the steepest climb angle is the same speed that yields the highest vertical speed. When those performance criteria coincide, both Vyse and Vxse share the same numerical value. In this problem, that shared value is 125 knots.

The other speeds listed would correspond to different points on the drag/power curves and wouldn’t satisfy both maximum climb rate and maximum climb angle simultaneously.