Ovation Pre-Buy - Speed question

[A64Pilot]

3 hours ago, cliffy said:

Where is your CG when in flight?  It makes a difference of a couple kts in TAS shown (trim drag)

Yeah it does, mine is a couple kts faster with 100 lbs in the baggage compt, where it would seem that 100 lbs should slow me down, not make me faster

[Jeff_S]

Agreed with what everyone else says. Each plane is a little different, and the engine can also have an effect on power and airspeeds.  I would say that what you're seeing is a bit slower than my experience, but TKS is a real "drag" on the wing (ha ha!).  Clean airfare and wax really does help. I have the A/C which carries a weight penalty for overall useful load, but the extra weight in the back actually helps reduce horizontal stab drag so that increases speed. I always throw an extra 50 lbs in the baggage compartment when I'm racing for this same reason.

But the other thing you haven't mentioned is what the atmospheric conditions were for your test.  The book values are (I believe) based on a standard day, but heat and higher/lower altimeter settings will also affect the results.  I get the fastest TAS in the winter, and then slower in the summer.  So it could also be that your test conditions didn't match what the book was showing.

[Alan Maurer]

I fly a 2008 Ovation 2 GX. Seems like the happy altitude is 8000 ft. Mine is light...no A/C, no ice protection and no oxygen. I still fly  ROP....

Mooneys are meant to go fast....usually get TAS of 185 kts. I crawl underneath and keep airplane free of any soot and grease from the exhaust. That helps.

8000 ft, full throttle , 2400 RPM. 100 degrees ROP. Flaps are snug. 280 hp version.  I don't know who can still do the upgrade to 310 hp?

Alan

[Danb]

Clarence what’s the approximate cost and performance gain.DB

[LANCECASPER]

13 hours ago, Danb said:

Clarence what’s the approximate cost and performance gain.DB

Dan, Mooney doesn't own the Acclaim 310hp STC, just the one for the Ovation. Bob Minnis still owns the one for the Acclaim. He charges $4500 for the STC plus whoever does the upgrade will charge you for the prop governor upgrade, fuel flow adjustments, tach display, etc. I've heard mixed reviews so I haven't done it yet.

[cliffy]

Bob Minnis  is THE GURU of engine packages. ALL Kinds! He's got some you've never heard of. One that goes as high as a U-2. 

He was the person that got the dual turbos to work for Mooney. Ask him how sometime. A great story. 

Edited July 18, 2023 by cliffy

[Niko182]

5 hours ago, Danb said:

Clarence what’s the approximate cost and performance gain.DB

My change was 244hp to 310hp so it was more drastic because it was an eagle converted to ovation, however at sea level an acclaim, eagle and ovation should be around the same as long as they all have the 310hp conversion. Takeoff roll is about 400 ft shorter from 1200ft to 800ft at heavier weights for 280 to 310hp. Climb should also increase a couple hundred feet per minute if you are climbing at 2700rpm. If you climb and cruise your acclaim at 2500rpm or below, there will be no difference in performance whatsoever.