Climbout Speed, with respect to rotorcraft, means a referenced airspeed which results in a flight path clear of the height-velocity envelope during initial climbout.

• A. A referenced airspeed which results in a flight path clear of the height-velocity envelope during initial climbout.
• B. The minimum steady climb speed.
• C. The maximum speed during takeoff.
• D. The stall speed in climb.

Answer: (A)

Climbout speed is the reference airspeed chosen to keep the rotorcraft’s flight path clear of the height-velocity envelope during the initial climb after liftoff. The height-velocity envelope marks the combinations of altitude and airspeed where a safe recovery from a degraded condition (like reduced power or rotor authority) near the ground may not be possible. By selecting climbout speed, you ensure you have enough altitude gain and rotor RPM margin to continue climbing and to recover if something goes wrong, avoiding that dangerous region. It isn’t simply the minimum steady climb speed, nor the maximum takeoff speed, nor the stall speed in climb; it’s specifically the speed that provides safe margins during the critical early climb.