We've now got about 280 hours on our RV-3 (Tsamsiyu), and have had flawless performance from our Mattituck IO-320 with Silverhawk fuel injection and P-Mags. We have been based in Houston, which is basically sea level, and most of the flying has been done in the center of the country. Aside from the usual care with hot starts, nothing special has been required for operation, and it worked right out of the box.
I transferred Tsam to her new home near Carson City a couple of days ago, and have noticed that starting and ground operations seem a little different, and am wondering if we need to make any adjustments for a higher altitude "base" (Density Altitudes about 6,000 msl or greater). In particular, the idle has changed - if I pull the throttle all the way back on the ground, she'll die - I'd say that the idle has changed about 150 rpm for the same throttle position. Starting mixture seems to be a little more finicky as well - I already figured out not to go all the way to full rich when she fires, but settle in somewhere below that.
I'm just curious if anyone has done any re-adjustment to operate routinely at higher altitude fields - performance is just as it has been before when we get out of the mountains, so I don't think that there is anything "wrong" per se'. ANd maybe it is just a matter of needing to retrain the operator.... If nothing else, it should spark some discussion!
Paul
I transferred Tsam to her new home near Carson City a couple of days ago, and have noticed that starting and ground operations seem a little different, and am wondering if we need to make any adjustments for a higher altitude "base" (Density Altitudes about 6,000 msl or greater). In particular, the idle has changed - if I pull the throttle all the way back on the ground, she'll die - I'd say that the idle has changed about 150 rpm for the same throttle position. Starting mixture seems to be a little more finicky as well - I already figured out not to go all the way to full rich when she fires, but settle in somewhere below that.
I'm just curious if anyone has done any re-adjustment to operate routinely at higher altitude fields - performance is just as it has been before when we get out of the mountains, so I don't think that there is anything "wrong" per se'. ANd maybe it is just a matter of needing to retrain the operator.... If nothing else, it should spark some discussion!
Paul