PeterpanMD Posted January 31, 2017 Report Posted January 31, 2017 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? Quote
gsengle Posted January 31, 2017 Report Posted January 31, 2017 Actually sounds about right for an Ovation 1 with TKS at reasonable cruise power... I have a 96Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
Alain B Posted January 31, 2017 Report Posted January 31, 2017 Loosing 3 to 5 knots from the book number is not uncommon for a plane with TKS . Make sure your MP and RPM gage are registering correctly . What about rigging ? Quote
Cruiser Posted January 31, 2017 Report Posted January 31, 2017 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 Quote
LANCECASPER Posted January 31, 2017 Report Posted January 31, 2017 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 1 Quote
Jerry 5TJ Posted January 31, 2017 Report Posted January 31, 2017 175 sounds right to me as well. I get no better than that in my 2000 Ovation, 280 hp, 3 blade, TKS laden. Switching to the 2 blade prop is an interesting suggestion. Don't forget to get one with the TKS slinger and boots. Quote
Cruiser Posted January 31, 2017 Report Posted January 31, 2017 What (Make and Model) is the current record holder for fastest, NA, certified, production airplane? Quote
LANCECASPER Posted January 31, 2017 Report Posted January 31, 2017 2 minutes ago, Cruiser said: What (Make and Model) is the current record holder for fastest, NA, certified, production airplane? Ovation 3 with 310hp Quote
BradB Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 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 . Quote
triple8s Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 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. 4 Quote
carusoam Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 (edited) 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 February 1, 2017 by carusoam 1 Quote
Mcstealth Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 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 Quote
Jerry 5TJ Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, Cruiser said: What (Make and Model) is the current record holder for fastest, NA, certified, production airplane? Cessna Citation X+, perhaps? M 0.935 Edited February 1, 2017 by Jerry 5TJ Squalls 1 Quote
BradB Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 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. Quote
Mcstealth Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 42 minutes ago, Jerry 5TJ said: Cessna Citation X+, perhaps? M 0.935 You missed the NA part. Quote
carusoam Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 (edited) 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 February 1, 2017 by carusoam 1 Quote
Jeff_S Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 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! 2 Quote
carusoam Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 Engine break-in flights are a blast! Low altitude, high power setting, with a hired gun in the right seat. Best regards, -a- 1 Quote
Jeff_S Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 Anthony..."pair of snails"? You lost me on that one. What're ya' talking about? Quote
Mcstealth Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 5 minutes ago, Jeff_S said: Anthony..."pair of snails"? You lost me on that one. What're ya' talking about? Turbos. I had to think about it also. Df 1 Quote
carusoam Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 (edited) 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 February 1, 2017 by carusoam Quote
Jerry 5TJ Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 9 minutes ago, Mcstealth said: You missed the NA part. Fan jet is NA: Power falls off with altitude. Quote
Mcstealth Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 1 minute ago, Jerry 5TJ said: Fan jet is NA: Power falls off with altitude. Okay then. I stand corrected. How does it go so fast if power falls with altitude? I will read up on it. df Quote
LANCECASPER Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 NA = Normally Aspirated (Non Turbo) Quote
carusoam Posted February 1, 2017 Report Posted February 1, 2017 (edited) Turbos and turbines are excluded from the NA club, until they become way more affordable... Best regards, -a- Edited February 1, 2017 by carusoam Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.