Bryan Wood
Well Known Member
Yesterday while coming home from OSH our 9A couldn't deliver the altitude that we were asking of her. This is the first time that this has happened and I thought other 9 drivers might like to know the conditions that humbled our plane and it's owner. Departing Kimbal, Nebraska the density altitude was 8,900' and the plane got off the ground nicely. It would not however climb to 14,500' which we badly needed for our leg to Elko, Nevada. Being loaded heavy and temps at 12,500' being in the 80's F the plane just wallowed along at 12,500' in a nose high attitude barely maintaining the altitude it had fought so hard to obtain. We ended up turning our heading to follow the direction of the mountains and cool down the oil while the range subsided slowly to a less threatening body. As fuel burned and temps came down the idea to use the slightest bit of flaps seemed to work and we got up to 14,500' and were able to turn back on our course. This plane has never appeared to have an altitude limitation when we have traveled, but yesterday the extremely high density altitudes really took their toll. When each tank had burned off about 5 gallons of fuel the nose came down at 14,500' and the view out the front was a more normal kind of attitude. Prior to that the ride was kind of similar to a boat that doesn't have enough power to plane out and just mushes along with the bow in the air. This same scenario happened again departing ELKO, Nevada when we were asking 12,500' out of her. Again, slight flaps and after burning about 5 gallons from each tank the nose came down and the ride was fine.
All in all a good day though making it from OSH to San Jose and landing in the daylight!
All in all a good day though making it from OSH to San Jose and landing in the daylight!