ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Indicated airspeed

Indicated airspeed is like a speedometer for airplanes. Just like a car has a speedometer to tell you how fast you're going, an airplane has an indicated airspeed gauge to tell the pilot how fast the airplane is flying.

You might know that flying in a plane, you feel like you're going really fast, but that doesn't mean you're actually going that fast. Airspeed is different from ground speed because of things like wind and other factors.

The indicated airspeed gauge works by measuring the pressure of the air coming into the plane. The faster the plane goes, the higher the air pressure, and that's what the gauge measures.

So, the pilot can look at the indicated airspeed gauge to make sure they're flying at the right speed for takeoff, cruising, and landing. It's important to know the right speeds for these different stages of flight so that the plane can stay safe and stable.

Overall, indicated airspeed is a really important tool for pilots to use in order to make sure they're flying safely and efficiently.