Which of the following best describes VLE?

• A. Maximum airspeed with landing gear extended
• B. Minimum airspeed with landing gear extended
• C. Maximum airspeed with landing gear retracted
• D. Airspeed for gear retraction

Answer: (A)

VLE is the maximum airspeed you can fly with the landing gear extended. When the gear is down, drag increases and the gear mechanisms and doors are less streamlined, so there’s a structural and operational limit to how fast you can safely fly in that configuration. Going faster than this limit could overstress the gear or its attachments and possibly cause gear doors or mechanisms to fail, especially under turbulent conditions. This speed limit helps ensure the airframe and gear stay within what they’re designed to handle while you’re with the gear down.

That’s why the statement describing the greatest allowed speed with the gear down is the correct description. The other ideas don’t fit: one is about a minimum speed with the gear down (which relates to stall considerations), another is about speed with the gear retracted (a different configuration), and another would be the speed at which you can retract the gear, not the limit with it down.