15 years ago, just before I started my not-yet-finished Lancair 360, I climbed to the top of Mt McKinley in Alaska (Denali - 20,320 feet MSL).  I don't remember the summit day all that well because I was focusing on getting to the top (my friends say I was just focusing on breathing, and they may be right) and a whiteout happened just before the summit, so on the down-climb I could only see about 150 feet.  I don't even have any pictures of that day, althouh I do have some good pictures of the lower elevations.

I just finished reading a new book about the 1967 climbing disaster atop Denali and it made me realize that I really want to be able to remember what it looks like up there.  I thought briefly about climbing it again, but fortunately sanity returned in short order.  Then I said "Aha!  I'll just fly my Lancair up there and take a look!"  (Although, maybe hypnotism would be the better choice...)

The part of interest occurs between Denali Pass (elevation 18,200 MSL) and the "Football Field" (elevation 19,500 feet).  I figure that cruising around at about 20,000 feet should get the job done.  I think I can avoid hitting the summit ridge (20,320 feet).

My question to the group is whether a Lancair 360 can do this safely.  I'd like to have a 500 fpm climb rate up there but I suppose 200 fpm might do.  While it's up high, it's very cold -- I remember hiking at 35 below zero F but it could be as "warm" as 5 below F.  The airplane is normally aspirated and has a three-bladed MT propeller.

If there's any wind at all, I ain't going near that place.  It better be 15 knots or less at altitude.  Of course, even if the summit attempt fails, it would still be a heck of a trip to fly up to Alaska.

So, what are the climb rates for a 360 at altitude?

- Rob Wolf