Jump to content

Ovation Speed Issues


PeterpanMD

Recommended Posts

I just picked up a 95 Ovation 1.  It seems a bit slow to me for an Ovation.  Coming from a 63 M20C its plenty fast for now but I've read they should get close to 180 knots true but I get around 175 true.  What can I do to speed it up a bit?  I heard getting rid of the McCauley three blade for a Hartzell Scimitar and maybe add EI could help.   It does have TKS installed which I hear can drop a few knots.   Any thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is the ball centered in straight and level flight? 

I would look for drag issues, landing gear doors, rigging, antennas, 

You removed the tie down rings in the bottom of the wings didn't you? :)

and of course the TKS will slow it down some. 

I flight plan for 170 kts, but I go LOP 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, PeterpanMD said:

I just picked up a 95 Ovation 1.  It seems a bit slow to me for an Ovation.  Coming from a 63 M20C its plenty fast for now but I've read they should get close to 180 knots true but I get around 175 true.  What can I do to speed it up a bit?  I heard getting rid of the McCauley three blade for a Hartzell Scimitar and maybe add EI could help.   It does have TKS installed which I hear can drop a few knots.   Any thoughts?

That's about the right speed for an M20R with TKS.  If cruise speed is your biggest concern, look for a 2 blade prop from someone who upgraded from the Ovation 2 (2 blade prop) and went to the 310hp with the 3 blade Top Prop. You'll need a different spinner of course.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/McCauley-Mooney-M20R-Ovation-Propeller-/270177720528?hash=item3ee7d8d8d0:m:mLj6GAjx4ZnrzbXI86t6SBA&vxp=mtr

 

That 2 blade should add 6 knots in cruise to what you are getting from the original Ovation prop. Your take-off roll will be longer but if you are based at an airport with a long runway at least that's one option.

http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft performance/Mooney/57.htm

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, PeterpanMD said:

I just picked up a 95 Ovation 1.  It seems a bit slow to me for an Ovation.  Coming from a 63 M20C its plenty fast for now but I've read they should get close to 180 knots true but I get around 175 true.  What can I do to speed it up a bit?  I heard getting rid of the McCauley three blade for a Hartzell Scimitar and maybe add EI could help.   It does have TKS installed which I hear can drop a few knots.   Any thoughts?

Put 2 turbo chargers on it and fly higher B).  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm running a 96 Oh and have a 2 blade Mac. It is like a slug on the takeoff roll till you get to about 80 Kt then she starts picking up steam. It only gets better the faster you go. My bird likes 7500 ft to 14,000 ft and I plan 185kt, usually pretty close to that. Two blade prop is cheap to acquire and cheap to overhaul, just plan on having a long runway if DA is high and you're heavy. Other than that there aren't too many drawbacks, oh except for when you wanna slow down, not much drag when you throttle back it kinda goes into glider mode. I have debated the hartzell 3 blade but because of the money which always seems to find some other place to be spent I have been stuck with the 2 blade Mac, which aint that bad. 

On your Oh be sure to trim the rudder plenty left when in cruise the faster you cruise in level flight the more left rudder it should need to keep the ball centered. Also if you are solo or just 2 SOB look at your elevator and try adding a little ballast in the baggage area. Add a bit until the elevator is straight when trimmed for level flight at cruise speed. Once you figure out how much to ballast to keep elevator straight any deflected control surfaces only add drag. Get these things done and figured out, there will be very few single engine pistons going by you. If you want economy, you can run LOP 12 GPS while cruising 175-180 KT. Hard to argue with that.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome aboard, Dr. Peter.

175 for the O1 ROP.  15 gph...  (roughly)

165 for the O1 LOP.  13 gph... (roughly)

How are you measuring the speed?  A four way course, a three way course, just collecting data as you go along?

The pair of snails is unable, that requires an STC that does not exist for the R.

The 310hp is nice, but running full out in cruise is a bit less economical with a touch of higher sound.

What else can we fix for ya?  :)

Best regards,

-a-

Edited by carusoam
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, PeterpanMD said:

I just picked up a 95 Ovation 1.  It seems a bit slow to me for an Ovation.  Coming from a 63 M20C its plenty fast for now but I've read they should get close to 180 knots true but I get around 175 true.  What can I do to speed it up a bit?  I heard getting rid of the McCauley three blade for a Hartzell Scimitar and maybe add EI could help.   It does have TKS installed which I hear can drop a few knots.   Any thoughts?

PeterPan, welcome to the forum. Glad that you made it, and please stick around. This is the right place to ask any and all Mooney questions.

congratulations on your purchase. Is this your first Mooney?

Mcstealth

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, carusoam said:

The pair of snails is unable, that requires an STC that does not exist for the R.

 

Best regards,

-a-

Was just kidding, of course.  Would also have to adjust those fuel flow estimates  up to feed the engine with the snails. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brad,

I was serious...

I had to get my engined OH'd. So, I reviewed all of the possibilities. Adding the pair of snails wasn't as expensive as I expected.

Having a few years of the O experience, adding the TNs to my plane would make sense.

Of course, it makes sense in a way that a retired guy needing an O makes sense...

Not having the STC made the decision a bit easier.

Best regards,

-a-

Edited by carusoam
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The OP's speeds seem about right for that configuration, as has been noted. My O3 will cruise LOP at 175 KTAS at optimal altitudes, 13 GPH or thereabouts. ROP is probably 182-ish at 16 GPH, but I don't use that profile.

Book says max cruise is 198; for comparison purposes, I averaged 192 knots ground speed over a 150 mile closed circuit air race last summer, WOT and 2600 RPM at 22 GPH, so pretty close. On straight legs of that course I was seeing 193-4 most of the time. That was pretty fun at 1000' AGL!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry Jeff, my bad...

AKA Pair of Turbo normalizers.... They share the same biological shape as the snail.

my younger buds use these things, and terminology.  I'm a large displacement guy.

but, adding a pair of snails and requisite intercoolers to an IO550 turning 2700rpm up to the flight levels sounded pretty good.

Best regards,

-a-

Edited by carusoam
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.