Kevin Horton - you might be a good one on this since you are looking at fuel burn, power, hp, etc....
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All this info coming in lately dealing with fuel use, endurance, HP, etc…. makes me wonder how Van’s determined their range numbers.
If you use the 55% and 75% power range and do some math against how much fuel is on board, I wonder what they used for their standard and how it compares with the numbers that are posted by this group.
I have a 7A with an IO-360, 180hp, CS like Van’s using for reporting. If you use the range reported for the 180 HP setup and using that power setting and range, at 8,000 for 55% you get 5.28 hours, for 75%, you get 3.86 hours assuming there is no reserve. If you add 30 minutes for reserve (since these were designed as VFR planes), I increased the flying time by ½ hour and you get 5.78 hours and 4.36 hours.
Also it depends if the stats are determined if you run the tanks dry or allow for non-usable fuel (which I will call 2 gallons per side).
Now comes the comparisons for flow rates vs range by time (using Van's posted speeds for range):
Bone Dry (42 gallons)
55% - No reserve……5.28 hours……..……..8 gal/hr
55% - 30 minute reserve……5.78 hours…..7.26 gal/hr
75% - No reserve……3.86 hours………….10.8 gal/hr
75% - 30 minute reserve….4.36 hours……..9.6 gal/hr
With Un-usable fuel (38 gallons)
55% - No reserve……5.28 hours………….7.2 gal/hr
55% - 30 minute reserve…..5.78 hours……6.6 gal/hr
75% - No reserve…….3.86 hours…………9.8 gal/hr
75% - 30 minute reserve….4.36 hours…….8.7 gal/hr
At 8,000 feet, real numbers I would use for range calcultion is 9.2 gallons/hr at 75F ROP. Allow for 38 gallons usable fuel for a total of 4.13 hours of engine run time, and TAS of mph 190 mph. Take out 30 minutes reserve, and I can fly for 3.63 hours and cover 690 miles. Put the reserve in it and the range becomes 785 miles. According to Van's range for 75% power at 8,000 feet is 765 miles.
Therefore, I consider my range to be 690 miles.
So how does Van's calculate their range numbers?
It's amazing what you can think up when you are sitting at a meeting and don't have a dog in the fight nor do you want to be there after the holiday weekend.
Looking for other opinions or experiences on how Van's determined those numbers.
***********************************************
All this info coming in lately dealing with fuel use, endurance, HP, etc…. makes me wonder how Van’s determined their range numbers.
If you use the 55% and 75% power range and do some math against how much fuel is on board, I wonder what they used for their standard and how it compares with the numbers that are posted by this group.
I have a 7A with an IO-360, 180hp, CS like Van’s using for reporting. If you use the range reported for the 180 HP setup and using that power setting and range, at 8,000 for 55% you get 5.28 hours, for 75%, you get 3.86 hours assuming there is no reserve. If you add 30 minutes for reserve (since these were designed as VFR planes), I increased the flying time by ½ hour and you get 5.78 hours and 4.36 hours.
Also it depends if the stats are determined if you run the tanks dry or allow for non-usable fuel (which I will call 2 gallons per side).
Now comes the comparisons for flow rates vs range by time (using Van's posted speeds for range):
Bone Dry (42 gallons)
55% - No reserve……5.28 hours……..……..8 gal/hr
55% - 30 minute reserve……5.78 hours…..7.26 gal/hr
75% - No reserve……3.86 hours………….10.8 gal/hr
75% - 30 minute reserve….4.36 hours……..9.6 gal/hr
With Un-usable fuel (38 gallons)
55% - No reserve……5.28 hours………….7.2 gal/hr
55% - 30 minute reserve…..5.78 hours……6.6 gal/hr
75% - No reserve…….3.86 hours…………9.8 gal/hr
75% - 30 minute reserve….4.36 hours…….8.7 gal/hr
At 8,000 feet, real numbers I would use for range calcultion is 9.2 gallons/hr at 75F ROP. Allow for 38 gallons usable fuel for a total of 4.13 hours of engine run time, and TAS of mph 190 mph. Take out 30 minutes reserve, and I can fly for 3.63 hours and cover 690 miles. Put the reserve in it and the range becomes 785 miles. According to Van's range for 75% power at 8,000 feet is 765 miles.
Therefore, I consider my range to be 690 miles.
So how does Van's calculate their range numbers?
It's amazing what you can think up when you are sitting at a meeting and don't have a dog in the fight nor do you want to be there after the holiday weekend.
Looking for other opinions or experiences on how Van's determined those numbers.
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