Converting a 231 to a 252

[jlunseth]

On a flight from South Dakota to Minnesota this week, we managed to convert my 231 to a 252 courtesy of some ferocious winds aloft.  Flying at 17,500 we saw 219 kts on the DME for quite awhile, which of course works out to the famous 252.  Actually, we saw about ten knots more than that for a brief period before starting our descent.  With a TAS of between 170 and 175, that works out to a tailwind component of better than 50 kts.  Actual winds aloft forecast were low 60's to mid-70's but not right on our tail.  The 419 nm from KRAP to KFCM was under two hours flight time.

Don't ask how long the morning flight out there took.

[Magnum]

The fastest groundspeed I had in my 205 so far were 221kts in 5000ft level flight. The mentioned website: www.groundspeedrecords.com

[KSMooniac]

I've had sustained 201-205 knots before, and it was quite nice.  Last year on a flight from Wichita to ABQ I had sustained ground speeds <100 knots too, and that is just brutal.  What should have been a 3:15 flight turned into 4:30 or so.  It still beats driving and airlines though!

[rob]

I saw 175kts GS in my C the other day at 5500' and it made me start shopping for Js

[Parker_Woodruff]

Best groundspeed stories...

 

193 Knots northbound through Oklahoma in a 1975 Cessna 172M at 3500 about 3 years ago.  Wide open throttle was giving me 2500 RPM.

Sustained 150-160 kt groundspeed from Killeen, TX to North Carolina in a C172.  Came back the next morning and ranged between 50-75 kts through Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Moderate turbulence the whole ride from north of Atlanta all the way to Baton Rouge so I was powered back a bit.   Meanwhile a Mooney gave a pirep going the opposite direction at 12,000.  I forget the speed but he was haulin.  I managed to hit 100 knots once I passed into east Texas.

12.5 hours from Charlotte to Waco, TX.  Brutal.

[rob]

About a month back I was returning to Memphis from the Detroit area. A front was moving in across the entire route of flight, and it looked to mirror my path almost exactly. Lightly loaded, I was only able to muster approx 95kts groundspeed, even after dropping down to around 2000'.

[Buster1]

All very cool and I really can appreciate those speeds.  I do love GA, do not read me wrong.  But I just gotta say today I hit 500 kts GS at about 1000 AGL...gotta love afterburner!

[LFOD]

Quote: Buster1

All very cool and I really can appreciate those speeds.  I do love GA, do not read me wrong.  But I just gotta say today I hit 500 kts GS at about 1000 AGL...gotta love afterburner!

[jlunseth]

The trip out to SD was one of those days where there was no way around the winds.  Down low the winds were much slower, but they were directly from the west.  Up at 17,500 the winds were really strong, but were more northerly.  So the headwind component was the same in the entire column and it was smoother further up, so further up we went.  Had some rookie passengers on board and did not want to rough them up. 

Coming back was sure a "breeze" though.

Buster1 when can we all come fly with you?

[Buster1]

Getting shot at and flying when Uncle Sam says, are the two biggest reasons I'm looking for a Mooney right now. 

The F-16 burns about 40,000+ Lbs of fuel per hour in full Burner.  I think that's about 6666 gallons per hour or 111 gal per minute if I did the math right.  We're not in burner too long or the sortie is over pretty darn quick.

[jlunseth]

Well if you want to fly decently fast and decently high at a decent cost, you are probably looking in the right place.

[Texan]

Quote: Buster1

The F-16 burns about 40,000+ Lbs of fuel per hour in full Burner.  I think that's about 6666 gallons per hour or 111 gal per minute if I did the math right.  We're not in burner too long or the sortie is over pretty darn quick.

[Buster1]

It's HOF....hair on fire;-)

[Immelman]

Its quite sad, but my highest level flight GS was not in my Mooney but a rental C172 SP several years ago.. 70+ knots on the tail; 190 knots over the ground. I think I've only reached 180 or so in my E model in level flight.