Best gph?

[carusoam]

So..,

How is Bill Wheat lately?

He signed my AW certificate back in Aug 65. I wasn't born until Nov that year....

I first spoke with him in 2000 regarding my C's operation. My daughter was born just a few months before...

Some people you meet stay in your memory...

Best regards,

-a-

[cliffy]

He's doing well considering his age. A lot better than most would be. He didn't sign my test flight off but knew who did and he remembered the guy that signed off the AW in 64. Still lives in Kerrville and does receive guests who call ahead. I didn't stay too long as I didn't want to over stay my welcome or tire him out.

He had a couple of good stories about the infamous flight with no bearings in the tail hinge and what his favorite early airframe was.

Absolutely an A, Number One, person.

[Andy95W]

He's doing well considering his age. A lot better than most would be. He didn't sign my test flight off but knew who did and he remembered the guy that signed off the AW in 64. Still lives in Kerrville and does receive guests who call ahead. I didn't stay too long as I didn't want to over stay my welcome or tire him out.He had a couple of good stories about the infamous flight with no bearings in the tail hinge and what his favorite early airframe was.Absolutely an A, Number One, person.

+1

I met him around 1997-98 at the factory and at the time didn't realize who he was until I started hearing the stories. Then I checked my logs and saw his signature.

[cujet]

Carson speed is as slow as I care to go. It's the best blend of MPG, GPH and groundspeed. 

 

Many people get concerned about GPH, when MPG (as previously mentioned) is really what matters. I'd like to add a few points. 

 

The ever present headwind or headwind component (yes a crosswind can slow you down) (think about that for a minute, then consider the percentage of flights with some headwind component) takes a heavier toll as you slow down. 20Kts off of 160Kts is better than 20Kts off of 100Kts.  12% loss vs 20% loss. 

 

Your time has value. Saving $10 in fuel, while taking an hour longer makes zero sense to me. As mentioned above, consider the MPG and Time in your equation. And, the interesting thing about the time savings. It's cumulative. A full tank of going slow added a good bit of time to your engine too. 

 

Let's look at this another way, if your goal is to get somewhere, then do so as effectively as possible. You probably don't drive your car 45 in a 65 to save fuel. Why would you do it in an airplane? 

[1964-M20E]

I fly a plane to get there as quickly as I can.  I own a Mooney to do it as efficiently as I can.  

[Blue sky]

The "O N L Y" reason to set a M20.... Up for slow flight is local sight seeing or landing approach.

FLY IT.

[ryoder]

FYI I flew for three hours on 18 gallons yesterday. Not everyone flies to get there as soon as possible. Some people fly gliders, hot air balloons, and helicopters and none of those are great ways to get somewhere as fast as possible.

[Tony__L]

FYI I flew for three hours on 18 gallons yesterday. Not everyone flies to get there as soon as possible. Some people fly gliders, hot air balloons, and helicopters and none of those are great ways to get somewhere as fast as possible.

Then buy a balloon! Aircraft are designed for a certain mission, not to say you can't fly them slower, but if that is what you want to do all the time . . .

[Hank]

FYI I flew for three hours on 18 gallons yesterday. Not everyone flies to get there as soon as possible. Some people fly gliders, hot air balloons, and helicopters and none of those are great ways to get somewhere as fast as possible.

It all depends on why you are flying. Are you going somewhere, or just putting around enjoying being in the air? For the first, make speed; for the second, throttle back to 16-18", set 2300 RPM and lean away (ROP or LOP), and you'll be set for some less-expensive cruising.

Even though the second will be fewer gph, when applied over a set distance (like traveling from here to there), the second will use more fuel because of the much lower speed and much longer time to cover the distance.

It's all in why you are flying . . . .

[markm20b]

Like everyone else I fly my M20B as fast on x-country flights. I plan on 140k at 9gph and usually go just a little faster.  Lately though I have been flying around at 140k when just screwing around.  I find 140k feels fast and I can save $10+ on a 45 minute flight.  I had a Cessna 170 before the Mooney so anything over 115mph feels fast to me.  I can't get myself to fly slow on x-countries even if I'm not in a hurry.  It is just too much fun to fly fast.

[bonal]

I have run the numbers and I get almost the exact miles per gallon with my 20c as I did with my cessna 150 based on fuel burn for time in the air. Now we just plan longer trips. I like our 140 to 145 knot speed and I also know this is as fast as I can afford to go. Truth be told my goal will be to afford 200 knots in fact if I could afford it 250 would be grand. The original post is confusing to me mpg vs gallons per hour or do you just want to go slow?

[EDNR-Cruiser]

What I like about my Mooney is that she pleases both advisors on my shoulders... 
When the devil says "go for it" it goes as fast as I can afford   and if the angel says "go soaring with the eagles" she does this, too and she does it with as much grace as any other bird and at almost no costs...
Whether you fly it this way or the other is your choice... - our Lady fits both roles (and more)...  

[dfgreene61]

Just flew back from Mccall Idaho today in my J. 9500 feet, 2500 rpm, wot, 152 Kts true, 17.5 kmpg lop!

After I landed I was struck with appreciation for this little airplane and the freedom it gives us to explore our marvelous country. If you ever get a chance to visit Mccall Idaho it's well worth it. Try the Shore Lodge for great food and hospitality.

BTW, had to clean frost off the wings this morning.

[ryoder]

I am building cross country time required for my part 61 instrument rating and flying off the required five hours of solo the insurance requires. I would also like to work on my commercial ticket at some point and I need over 150 hours for that so the cool thing with the Mooney is that it can do it all. I can get Cessna 172 150hp economy but take off with 180hp of power and climb up high and fast. My original post was all about gallons per hour because for low time pilots flying around in circles for training purposes this is what matters. All of my flights terminate at the point of origin so it makes little sense to fly 150 mph when 110 to 120 will give me more time to enjoy the scenery, build time, and experience flying in general.

[schule]

Even a less efficient TSIO-360 can get 115 KIAS on 6.5 gph @2100 RPM. The old IO-360 could do some where around 110 MIAS on 5ish gph @ 1900 RPM. A light weight C should be able to hang out around 110 MIAS on 5ish gph with no problem.

[Hank]

Build time by flying to every airport within 150nm, about an hour each way maximum. Going round in circles, you won't learn near as much. It's also a lot more fun!

[aaronk25]

I flew from Rochester MN to New York on 3 occasions where I only used 32gallons!

Also crossed gulf from Nnew New Orleans to Cozumel on 35gallons.

The utility of these planes is amazing! I couldn't have made the gulf crossing in a archer. Would have been wet about 50 miles short of land!

[bdjohn4]

I asked a guy named Jose the same question:

 

To quote the Puerto Rican Jose Monroy (as in Monroy LR tanks), who flies his J-model from Nova Scotia to Santa Maria and then on to Spain, "Are joo kidding me?! A Mooney has 2 power settings, Full power, and Off!"

[adamsboomer]

Careful burning holes in the sky.  I am also trying to get hours for instrument, I believe it says you must go somewhere over 50 miles away land there. 61.1((3).