VR
The speed at which the pilot begins to raise the nose for takeoff.
Also written
rotation speed
VR is set so that the aircraft reaches V2 by the time it is 35 feet up, even with an engine out. Rotating early risks a tail strike and a poor climb; rotating late wastes runway. The nose coming up is the moment most rotation photographs are taken.
Nearby in Aviation
- visual approach — An approach flown by reference to the runway and terrain rather than by following an instrument procedure.
- VOR — A ground beacon that lets an aircraft determine its bearing to or from the station.
- wake turbulence — The pair of counter-rotating vortices trailing from an aircraft's wingtips, strong enough to upset a following aircraft.
- wet lease — A lease in which one airline provides another with an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance.