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  #1  
Old 01-11-2009, 08:32 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Location: Dayton, NV
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Default 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
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  #2  
Old 01-11-2009, 08:40 PM
SpicyChili SpicyChili is offline
 
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Default

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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  #3  
Old 01-11-2009, 09:36 PM
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az_gila az_gila is offline
 
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Smile That is...

...about 46 statute mpg - and 960 nm range with reserves.

Quite amazing...
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  #4  
Old 01-11-2009, 09:37 PM
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n5lp n5lp is offline
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Location: Carlsbad, NM
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Default 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.
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  #5  
Old 01-11-2009, 09:49 PM
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Shockwave Shockwave is offline
 
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Location: Ankeny, Iowa
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Default

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
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  #6  
Old 01-12-2009, 02:24 AM
gasman gasman is offline
 
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Location: Sonoma County
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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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  #7  
Old 01-12-2009, 02:52 AM
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Barry Barry is offline
 
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Default 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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  #8  
Old 01-12-2009, 03:21 AM
asav8tor asav8tor is offline
 
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Location: Seattle, wa
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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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  #9  
Old 01-12-2009, 05:16 AM
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ronschreck ronschreck is offline
 
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Location: Gilbert, AZ
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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?
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  #10  
Old 01-12-2009, 06:15 AM
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f1rocket f1rocket is offline
 
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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!
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