I was in an earlier post "Myths and Choice of IO-360 Lycoming engines and read a reply by Milt where he listed a report from a Cherokee owner -
(Copied from previous post)
On the website noted below a Cherokee 140 owner (over the span of 2 web pages) does an elegant job of comparing climb performance in his Cherokee with an old muffler having a displaced baffle and a newer more efficient muffler.
He calculates for a 7hp gain he derived a 114fpm climb improvement. If things are proportional that means the extra 20 hp would give an improvement of 300 fpm off the deck.
7 HP increase gives >100fpm climb improvement
My question is whether or not any similar type tests have been performed by changing weight as opposed to horsepower?
I know there would be many factors that would make it difficult, if not impossible, to provide dead on performance results. (engine performance from one run to the next, density altitude changes, etc.) but it would be very nice to know the performance gains possible by saving X number of pounds.
I read an article in one of the aviation magazines where a guy went through his plane to reduce as much weight as possible. Even to the point of shortening all of his wiring and eliminating unnecessary wiring loops to reduce the weight. He mentioned that overall he saved several pounds but I don?t think he mentioned what performance gains was achieved.
Has anyone ever experimented with this? Sounds like a nice project for those fortunate flying RV owners out there to take on.
It would certainly motivate folks still building to be weight conscious.
Regards,
Donald
RV-8 Empennage
N-2845 DP Reserved
(Copied from previous post)
On the website noted below a Cherokee 140 owner (over the span of 2 web pages) does an elegant job of comparing climb performance in his Cherokee with an old muffler having a displaced baffle and a newer more efficient muffler.
He calculates for a 7hp gain he derived a 114fpm climb improvement. If things are proportional that means the extra 20 hp would give an improvement of 300 fpm off the deck.
7 HP increase gives >100fpm climb improvement
My question is whether or not any similar type tests have been performed by changing weight as opposed to horsepower?
I know there would be many factors that would make it difficult, if not impossible, to provide dead on performance results. (engine performance from one run to the next, density altitude changes, etc.) but it would be very nice to know the performance gains possible by saving X number of pounds.
I read an article in one of the aviation magazines where a guy went through his plane to reduce as much weight as possible. Even to the point of shortening all of his wiring and eliminating unnecessary wiring loops to reduce the weight. He mentioned that overall he saved several pounds but I don?t think he mentioned what performance gains was achieved.
Has anyone ever experimented with this? Sounds like a nice project for those fortunate flying RV owners out there to take on.
It would certainly motivate folks still building to be weight conscious.
Regards,
Donald
RV-8 Empennage
N-2845 DP Reserved