From: "Tracy" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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Subject: Trip report
Message-Id: <4C434641-2FDF-4BA5-87DE-A16CE1655472@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2014 12:38:20 -0600
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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Here's some trip data from a flight from Florida to Colorado in the 20B powe=
red RV-8.    It's the first long trip where I was able to fly at or near the=
 altitudes it was optimized for.   It didn't do as well as I had hoped in te=
rms of fuel economy but the numbers were as good or slightly better than the=
 typical Lycoming powered RV numbers I hear.   It is only slightly faster th=
an my Renesis powered RV-4 at cruise conditions and reasonable fuel flow.  B=
ut what I like about it is the effortlessness with which it does the job.  T=
here is always a handful of throttle left for reserve in any normal flight s=
ituation.   =20

Full throttle is reserved for those few seconds between rudder effectiveness=
 at 30mph and lift off speed at 60.  As soon as the wheels break ground I ty=
pically reduce manifold pressure to 24".   Cruise climb is done at between 1=
8 and 19" depending on takeoff weight at around 700 FPM.  Cruise altitude wa=
s limited to 15,000 this trip by temperature.  I wasn't thinking and wore on=
ly a thin jacket and I don't have cabin heat.   All three legs were flown at=
 14,500 in a very unusual high pressure system the whole way with almost zer=
o wind.  Here are the raw numbers:

Altitude       14,500
OAT              35 -  43F
TAS              174  -   182 MPH  *
Fuel Flow     8 GPH
Engine RPM  5250 - 5450
Manifold Pressure    14.3"
% Power       30%   (As calculated by EM3)
EGT              1450F
Water temp   145 - 150
Oil Temp       160        (Cowl flap would help temps and airspeed)
Total flight hours on trip  9.2

*  Fuel flow was held constant, TAS varied with fuel batch.  Low number was w=
ith Florida gas with about 8% ethanol.   Refueled at Charlie England's place=
 (Thanks for the hospitality and fuel service Charlie!).  Not sure wether it=
 had ethanol or not but TAS was a few MPH better.   After refueling at 47K i=
n Kansas with no ethanol mogas, the TAS reached the highest number. =20

Tracy

Sent from my iPad=