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Once, when flying straight and level in my 320 with Don Goetz as a passenger (now I can get you to believe anything), he asked "Have you done any engine out work?" "Negatory Fluegenmeister," I replied, clicking my heels. Then, following his instructions, the engine power was slowly reduced to idle as we pulled up to knock the airspeed down to 110 KIAS. He said, "Hold the 110 Kts (average best glide speed) and note the descent rate."
After a period of stabilization I exclaimed, "She's a brick going down at 1600 feet per minute!" "We're doomed Kapitan, unless I re-engage the warp speed lever," I added, fearing we would end up in a cheese pond here in WI.
"Not to worry, just pull the prop all the way back to coarse pitch," he calmly stated.
Doing that and holding the 110 Kts, I noted, "Holy Fromage Du Lac! We're gliding at a mere 400 to 500 foot per minute drop Herr Professor Doktor Don. "We can easily go from here to East Chemung (that's in IL for the geographically challenged) or further, even."
"Whatever." He drawled as his eyelids closed - probably dreaming up another lesson for the unwashed. Later, bored, he said "Wanna do some rolls?"
Notes:
1. Don's call of 110 Kts was pretty good since the AOA indicated 108 as the best L/D for our weight and OAT.
2. This exercise altered my thinking about power failures on takeoff or approach - First, pull back the prop, establish best glide speed .........etc.
Scott Krueger
N92EX
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