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01-11-2009, 08:32 PM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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Musings on RV Flight Duration.....
I was loafing along this afternoon, just doing a maintenance check flight after an oil change, and I pulled the power back until i was flying level at about 80 knots. The fuel flow dropped to about 2.0 gph, and since I had nearly full tanks, the "remaining duration" value on the EFIS was showing about 14 hours! Hmmmm....I got to wondering - has anybody ever gone up to see just how long that could keep an RV airborne on one tank of fuel? I'm not sure what you'd do with yourself for all that time droning along!
Think about it, you could fly off a 40 hour Phase 1 in 3 tanks of gas! (Note - This statement is for "Wow" factor only - I am of the firm belief that Phase 1 is to be used for testing purposes, and not just putting hours on the airframe......)
I've never thought about fooling around with a very long, slow flight before - interestign idea though! So what the longest duration flight you've made? Anyone stayed up ten hours!?
Paul
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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01-11-2009, 08:40 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Parker, Colorado
Posts: 17
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Put yourself in a situation:
VFR on top with known icing below. Nice you know you can loaf along until you fine more favorable WX or clouds to punch through.
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01-11-2009, 09:36 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
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That is...
...about 46 statute mpg - and 960 nm range with reserves.
Quite amazing... 
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
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01-11-2009, 09:37 PM
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fugio ergo sum
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Carlsbad, NM
Posts: 1,912
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Repurcussions?
This made me think of the couple of times I have flown alongside Cessna 150s going somewhere. That takes a power setting and fuel flow close to what you are talking about.
It is kind of intoxicating seeing that economy but I wasn't entirely comfortable. I was seeing temperatures completely out of the ordinary and wondering if this is very healthful for the engine.
I really don't know, but wouldn't want to do it a whole lot without some advice from people smarter than me about engines.
__________________
Larry Pardue
Carlsbad, NM
RV-6 N441LP Flying
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01-11-2009, 09:49 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ankeny, Iowa
Posts: 194
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Here's some other thoughts.
80kts is 92mph, giving you 46 mpg at 2 gph.
46mpg * a full load of fuel (42 gal for an 8) is 1932 miles theoretical range.
From my local airport, you could make it anywhere within:
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map?lat...wpt_sym=circle
Note, I'm not sure which numbers your efis is most accurate about. Calculated another way:
42 gal / 14h = 3 gph. Course that's still 30mpg, for a theoretical range of 1288 miles.
Which would put you anywhere within:
http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map?lat...wpt_sym=circle
__________________
Chanler Childs
RV-8A
Empennage complete
Building wings
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01-12-2009, 02:24 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sonoma County
Posts: 3,821
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If you did fly at 80kts level for one hour on one tank that you switched to after you established your cruse, and then switched back for landing and then fueled the cruse tank you would see that you used more like 3 to 4 gallons for that period.
It takes between 55 and 60 HP to keep a 6 or an 8 in the air at 80kts. 12# of fuel /.41=29hp........ But I might be missing something.
Last edited by gasman : 01-12-2009 at 02:53 AM.
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01-12-2009, 02:52 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 112
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Longest Flight
I once did 6.6 hours in my RV6A from McKinney TKI Texas to Port Meadville Pa. GKJ when I was on my way back to France. I had a ferry tank in the fuselage 33 gals plus wing tip tanks 18 gals. Could have gone on for a bit further but that was enough fun for that flight. Once did 9.6 hours in a Turbo Arrow from Goose Bay to Reykjavik again with ferry tank. These are obviously minor hops compared with what Jon Johannson did in his RV4 as well as others who have crossed the Pacific.
Barry RV6A F-PRVM
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01-12-2009, 03:21 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Seattle, wa
Posts: 679
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I can remember from college the instructor writing on the chalk board "L/D Max = Max range for a prop airplane no wind."
Quite slow for an RV. And I too have wondered about engine heath at very low power settings.
I know the oil temp needs to be kept up but what about the CHTs down around 210?
During break-in they want the rings to have pressure on them? OK after break in? Seems like the oil gets dirty faster when running at ultra low power.
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01-12-2009, 05:16 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 1,628
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I was at Sun-n-Fun a few years back and met an RV-8 driver from Kansas. He had extended his wing tanks to the wing tips, virtually doubling his fuel capacity. He told me he could fly, non-stop to anywhere in the continental US. I left after asking him one more question: Why?
__________________
Ron Schreck
IAC National Judge
RV-8, "Miss Izzy", 2250 Hours - Sold
VAF 2021 Donor
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01-12-2009, 06:15 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Martinsville, IN
Posts: 2,326
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I did 4.5 flying non-stop from Austin to Indy, but my kidneys, bladder, and butt only want to fly about 3!
__________________
Randy Pflanzer
Greenwood, IN
www.pflanzer-aviation.com
Paid through 2043!
Lund fishing Boat, 2017, GONE FISHING
RV-12 - Completed 2014, Sold
427 Shelby Cobra - Completed 2012, Sold
F1 EVO - partially completed, Sold
F1 Rocket - Completed 2005, Sold
RV-7A - Partially completed, Sold
RV-6 - Completed 2000, Sold
Long-EZ - Completed 1987, Sold
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