Ovation 3 High Altitude Testing

[Jeff_S]

Hey all,

Had a perfect day on Saturday to finally do some high altitude testing, both for the plane and my new oxygen canister (SkyOx with cannula). I took off from PDK (1000' elevation, 25°C) and climbed straight up to 17,500 to test climb performance. I used cruise-climb settings, adjusting VS to maintain 120 KIAS, and leaned for power using EGT. Then did straight line cruises from 17.5 down to 12.5 to measure speed and fuel flow. Also, used my pulse oximeter to test blood-ox levels.  Performance charts are attached for those who are interested.

This was just one test, on a day that was significantly hotter than ISA, so it will all be relative. Also, I started with 60 gals of gas and just me and on board, so I was probably 3000 lbs or so. But generally speaking, performance seems consistent with book numbers. A few of my key takeaways from the event:

1) The view from that high altitude was neat, a little freakish at first as I could really tell the difference once I got into the teens. Started to look like an airliner view. I'd never been that high in a personal plane before, but it was great once I got over the initial anxiety.

2) My plane just seems to like cruising in the mid 170s. Up high, that was about all I could get. Stayed ROP at that altitude because it really didn't like LOP, and at that altitude it doesn't really matter anyway. Down lower, I was able to get back to LOP which improved overall efficiency.

3) My oxygen delivery worked fine...when I remembered to breathe! I was so caught up in the data collection (and at first, yes, a bit nervous) that a few times when I slipped on the oximeter it was showing blood sat in the 80s. But a few deep breaths and I was able to keep that in the 90s, so now I know how that works!

Overall, it was a fun experience and gave me some confidence for how to fly higher when conditions warrant. I will look to a winter day this season to repeat the test at ISA or lower and see how that changes things.

Cheers!

 

[Danb]

Jeff, great procedure to get your numbers and figure out the need to breath through your nose. I flew home yesterday but ended up flying at 5,000 feet instead of in the teens, I noticed the opposite at 5000 it felt like we were driving on the highway.

[carusoam]

Great details, Jeff!

Thanks for sharing...

Now, we have to go look for the time to climb challenge thread... O3s Rock!

Couple of questions...

1) with the 80s O2 saturation level, did you get any noticeable hints...?

- some additional deep breaths are a typical response...

- fuzzy spots in your vision can be a hint...

- heart rate elevation as the HR tries to increase the O2 flow... I have picked up a FitBit HR to go along with my O2 saturation monitor.

Some people have more noticeable hints than others.

PP with an interest in heart health, not a Dr....

Best regards,

-a-

[thinwing]

The Mooney wing seems to like 17 k...I bet an l/d polar would reveal why...anyway at 17 k and 32 inches mp equals happy Mooney pilot

[Danb]

-A-. Ide  bet he didn't notice much with a couple hits below 90, but as I stated above, even though my saturation was in the 95 range I felt weird so I came down to 5000 for my last hour and all was good. 

Any good ideas for great prescription sunglasses. The sun was so bright Sunday it was mind shattering.

[Jeff_S]

Hey Anthony. I didn't notice any physical effects of the low blood-ox levels, but my pulse was definitely elevated into the 100s. But I was checking pretty regularly, every 5 minutes or so, so I never let it go too long. Also, as I got comfortable with the height I think my breathing became more deep and regular.

[kmyfm20s]

My results are very similar. I did peak EGT and LOP.

This was leaned to peak.

this was LOP. 

[Hank]

For prescription sunglasses,mcheck www.zennioptical.com Theynare incredibly inexpensive and have surprisingly good optics. You will need a copy if your prescription, and when you pick it up ask if they will record your pupil distance; if not, Zenni's website has a way for you to measure it. Just got one pair of Transitions and two pair of sunglasses, about $200 total. Love them all!

[Danb]

7 hours ago, Hank said:

For prescription sunglasses,mcheck www.zennioptical.com Theynare incredibly inexpensive and have surprisingly good optics. You will need a copy if your prescription, and when you pick it up ask if they will record your pupil distance; if not, Zenni's website has a way for you to measure it. Just got one pair of Transitions and two pair of sunglasses, about $200 total. Love them all!

Thanx Hank. I'm having a hard time getting sunglasses that work for the sky and seeing the panel. My transitions are great on the ground don't get dark enough in plane

[Hank]

4 hours ago, Danb said:

Thanx Hank. I'm having a hard time getting sunglasses that work for the sky and seeing the panel. My transitions are great on the ground don't get dark enough in plane

That's the beauty of Zenni. I don't drive or fly with transition lenses if it's sunny. Their prices are low enough to have dedicated sunglasses in each vehicle. 

[Yetti]

39dollarglasses.com is a good way to play with lenses.  If you get the polarized coating, won't work with device screens or other screens.

[Hank]

31 minutes ago, Yetti said:

39dollarglasses.com is a good way to play with lenses.  If you get the polarized coating, won't work with device screens or other screens.

My polarized lenses work well with G430W and stormscope. And the several Samsung phones I've had over the years. 

 

Edited August 10, 2016 by Hank

[Yetti]

interesting... maybe just the pair I got...

[mooniac15u]

The direction of the polarization will make a difference. If the lenses are polarized in the same plane as the display then it won't be noticeable. If the polarization of the lenses and display are perpendicular then the screen will turn black. 

Next time you have your polarized lenses and an LCD screen look through one of the lenses at the the screen and then rotate the lense.  The effect should be easy to see. 

[Piloto]

I got similar numbers but a little bit slower due to TKS taking this Ovation to the UK. The Ovation is the best for long range flight.

José

[buddy]

Jeff what were your cylinder head temps. During the climb?  At 120 my number 4 would be above 400.  I may need to adjust my fuel flow, I'm only getting about 22 gph in a climb. I usually have to climb out at 130 when using 2400 rpm and full mp. To keep it below 400.

[kmyfm20s]

1 hour ago, buddy said:

Jeff what were your cylinder head temps. During the climb?  At 120 my number 4 would be above 400.  I may need to adjust my fuel flow, I'm only getting about 22 gph in a climb. I usually have to climb out at 130 when using 2400 rpm and full mp. To keep it below 400.

TCM says 27,2 gph at sea level takeoff but I have mine set to 29.6 gph which inline with the APS recommendation. There is a time to climb thread if you do a search. I was on the heavy side and I climbed at 105 KIAS, WOT at 2700 rpm from below sea level to 12,500. I was able to keep my EGT's below 1300 and never got a cylinder above 380 the entire climb. I typically cruise climb at 140 KIAS, WOT and 2700 rpm which is Carson's speed which is way more efficient because you don't have to use as much fuel for cooling and get better power, There is a thread about Carson's speed to.

[kmyfm20s]

19 hours ago, Piloto said:

I got similar numbers but a little bit slower due to TKS taking this Ovation to the UK. The Ovation is the best for long range flight.

José

Where the other screen? Airspeed and altitude. I don't think there is a better long range plane out there than an Ovation. It hurts just thinking of how long you could potentially sit in the seat! 

[Jeff_S]

2 hours ago, buddy said:

Jeff what were your cylinder head temps. During the climb?  At 120 my number 4 would be above 400.  I may need to adjust my fuel flow, I'm only getting about 22 gph in a climb. I usually have to climb out at 130 when using 2400 rpm and full mp. To keep it below 400.

I'd say that if you're only getting 22 gph near sea level in a WOT climb, you definitely need to increase your fuel flow. That would be one reason your CHTs are so high. It was a hot day for me, with temps well above ISA, but my #5 cylinder (always hottest, since I haven't done the pixie hole thing) still never topped 380°F. I would generally lean to about 1300 EGT every few thousand feet.

[carusoam]

Is the climb procedure with the O3 as simple as the J climb procedure....?

1) full throttle.

2) 2700rpm.

3) adjust mixture  ROP, using the blue/white EGT box approx 200°F ROP.

4) 120 KIAS. 

5) monitor CHTs... <380°F

6) FF of 29gph (some variation for altitude from below sea level to way above SL like at Leadville...)

7) Anyone climb LOP?

8) Anyone adjust power in the climb to 25/25 (O1 standard climb)

 

When my plane was going in for it's annual, I noticed that my FF wasn't showing the expected 29gph on T/O.  It's squawk list was headed with check Max FF setting.

It would be less than good to have a shop set FF for 280hp and use it as if it's 310hp...

Questions from my 310hp PP experience...

Best regards,

-a-

[kmyfm20s]

During my flight to Aspen this past weekend I did some more high flying. I did 25 ROP a 17,500' since I didn't have that photo from when I took my pictures in the above post. I also flew at 15,500' and was surprised to see the speeds where the same but FF was less at 17,500'. 

25 ROP at 17,500'

50 ROP at 15,500'

Peak EGT at 15,500'

50 LOP at 15,500'

My preference is flying peak EGT at high altitudes. The O3's are pretty amazing performers for having NA engines at high altitude.

[Jeff_S]

Pretty consistent readings to what I was getting. That's cool.

[carusoam]

Great data collection, gents!

The MVP is going 1 kt faster than Garmin.  

Thanks for sharing,

-a-

[Jeff_S]

Okay, just for fun, some results of my trip from KC back to Atlanta on Sunday. I climbed straight up to 15,000' and the performance was very similar to the numbers I posted above, within a minute at each altitude. And this time it was a pretty standard ISA day.

Had a good tailwind as I was riding that cold front all the way. These first pics show cruise performance at 15K (1st one's a bit blurry cuz I was trying to shield the sun with one hand while shooting with the other).

The third pic was on descent from Rocket (Huntsville) via the BUNNI4 arrival. First time I'd ever seen 200 KTAS in my own plane. Pretty cool!

 

[carusoam]

200+ knots can be alluring...

My first X-country with my Transition trainer bringing the bird home was memorable.  I was still checking out what I had actually bought.  My transition trainer asked me my thoughts about it as I was trying to figure out if the GPS was actually working.

A plane that can cruise faster than an Indy 500 winner, and not have to make a pit stop in 1000 miles, And can take a friend along for the ride...

no special pit crew required.  Adjusting down force on a wing is done automatically at the touch of a button.  (Alt)

Thanks for sharing the details!

Best regards,

-a-