V/NO is defined as the

• A. Normal operating range
• B. Stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration
• C. Never-exceed speed
• D. Best glide speed

Answer: (A)

V/NO is the maximum structural cruising speed—the upper limit of the normal operating range. It’s the speed at which the airframe is designed to handle routine flight in smooth air without risking structural damage. Staying at or below this speed keeps you within the safe envelope; exceeding it moves you into the caution range where gusts and turbulence could impose loads beyond what the structure is intended to handle. This isn’t stall speed (that’s a lower speed tied to stall in a given configuration), nor the never-exceed speed (that’s a higher absolute limit you should never reach), nor the best glide speed (which depends on weight and configuration).