Climb performance at 8000 ft?

[Buggsy2]

I was talking with a friend who used to own a turbo Cessna 210 (he sold it in anticipation of not being able to renew his medical). He was naturally happy with its climb performance at high-altitude airports. I said I thought that normally-aspirated RVs could climb well at altitude also, and he wanted to know more (he thought I was BSing or overstating the RV performance).

So my question is: what's your climb rate at 8000 feet? VSI rate is fine, and I don't care about standard conditions, etc. If you reply please list:

• RV model (-4, -6/6A, -7/7A, etc)
• Engine horsepower (150hp, 160, 180, etc)
• Climb rate as you best recall at 8000 feet or thereabouts

[Kyle Boatright]

It really depends on weight, temperature, and if you're interested in max climb or cruise climb. My airplane (160 hp RV-6) climbs at about 700 fpm at that altitude and 140 knots on a standard day with just me in the airplane. Loaded for Oshkosh, on a 90+ degree day, the climb isn't nearly as good.

[RV10inOz]

RV10

typical load, warm weather, IAS123knots, typically 800+fpm, and passing through 10,000 700-750fpm.

Approaching FL130 the IAS back to 115knots and still doing 550fpm.

If it were a TN machine I would struggle to keep up!

[mtnflyer]

I fly out of Granby Colo (8000ft elev) in my 6 with an 0-360 and can get almost 2000 ft per minute up to 12000 ft,, but the outside temp will be 0 or below.
In the summer I will get around 12 to 1400 feet per minute climb up to 12000ft. The RVs are the only aircraft to fly in Colorado.

[Kevin Horton]

My flight test data at 8000 ft showed about 1500 ft/mn at Vy at 8000 ft, at my typical gross weight. It would be about 1200 ft/mn at my typical cruise-climb speed.

[N941WR]

With my 135 HP O-290-D2 RV-9 I could easily cruise climb it at 700 FPM at 10,000' MSL. I was under GW but had 3/4 tanks, my wife and baggage for a weekend away.

The first time I did this I just laughed because many airplanes can't go up that fast at sea level.

I didn't test the new engine at those altitudes but I'm sure it has to be better.

[schristo@mac.com]

Take off at 120 ft elevation and direct climb for 5 minutes to 10,300... pretty light but not on fumes A fairly casual but dedicated climb without close effort to maintain Vy. As I passed 10k the climb rate was solidly above 1,600.

These planes are exceptionally well balanced and truly deserve the tagline - total performance!

[Ron Lee]

You need two things:

1) Horsepower
2) Constant speed prop.