Portable Oxgygen System Questions

[Seth]

I'm planning for my cross country flight and should have jumped at the chance to purchase a portable O2 system that was availalbe on MooneySpace about a month ago. 

 

Please let me know what type of system you use, the positives and shortcomings, and what you suggest for me to get.  I'm thinking 2 place system, but does a 4 place make sense?  Have you ever used a four place portable system? 

 

My current mission:  Flying the Mooney Missile from coast to coast.  On my last flight around the USA in my former F model, I did not have O2 and felt the effects when flying at 10,000 - 12,400 for extended periods out west as well as fatigue after the flights.  I would have been better off with O2 to be higher for potential mountain waves and mountain flying, as well as fatigue and headaches after the longer legs.  Most of my flying will be during daylight hours, but not all of it.

 

I will have at least one other person on board for some portions of the flights on the west coast (between Los Angeles and San Francisco), but only 3 or 4 people for one day and that will be in the Souther California region to visit Catalina (where I landed in the F model in 2010).  Very neat airport - good buffalo burgers.

 

Most of the flight will be solo accross the counrty, and yes, I'll post my plans for the Mooney coast to coast may flying in case we're able to meet up anywhere.

 

Future Mission:  I'd like to have O2 for at least 2 people for trips where I can take advantage of winds up high to lessen my fuel burn.  The mIssile will easily climb to 17,999 legally, but the 300 horses will fall off the higher I go.  I'd love to be able to cruise in the teens and get a tailwind at low fuel burns when possible.  Most trips are 1 or 2 people.  Occasionally there will be 3 or 4, but that's rare, and I'm not sure I want to spend the money now for a four place system.

 

I'm looking at the EDS 02D2 equipment which is expensive but evidently saves O2 - not sure if I'm going to make that much of an investment yet, as this flight will be the first where I really use the O2 in great quantities (I'll practice first to make sure I know what I'm doing).

 

Aerox, Mountain High, and Air King are some brands I've looked up - I've just started my reserach.  I think the thread I created before was lost when the bug hit and we had to restore MooneySpace and lost a few days of threads.

 

I already have a pulse oximeter that I picked up rather inexpensively a few years ago due to the MooneySpace bulletin.  Works great and I already have my baselines up to 11,000 feet.

 

Thank you in advnace for the collective wisdom of Mooney Space. 

 

-Seth

 

 

[smccray]

I picked up a Mountain High EDS a while back.  See the attached photos where it lives on my plane.  I like that 02 is easily available to me, and I don't have to pay attention to flow as altitude changes.

[larryb]

If I were buying today I'd buy the Mountain High EDS system. From everything I hear and read, it's the best. Unfortunately my plane came with a SkyOx system, so I'm using that. Come to think of it, want to buy my SkyOx system, 4 place with tote bag, 15 cuft tank? Then I can go buy the Mountain High for myself.

 

Larry

[Alan Fox]

I have a medical bottle that works great , Two bottles , regulator , custom fit bag and a dozen nasal cannulas , was about 100 on ebay new.....

[DrBill]

I have a  4 place system with 30cuft steel bottle. My first flight was to S florida (3+hrs) and I used over 1/2 the bottle on the way down (standard canula). I then purchased the oximizer canula and have yet to get a long trip high enough to test it.   Was going to do it today but the 1 hr flight at 11K was shortened to 50 mins due to winds so elected not to set it up.

Bill

[bd32322]

Does anyone have figures for amount of oxygen used by a typical person at 24000 feet using a mask?

[rainman]

My system is an after market plumbed 4-place in a 1979 231. If it wasn't already in the plane when I purchased it, I'd just get a portable with an oximiser cannula. The tank just got the 5year recert while at a local shop and I have a local FBO that can fill the tank no problems. Ray

[RJBrown]

Does anyone have figures for amount of oxygen used by a typical person at 24000 feet using a mask?

A lot. Too much. A wasteful amount.

 Get a pulse oximeter and only use the mask if IT says you need to. Mask only over 18 may be a bit too conservative and terribly wasteful of oxygen. Never felt the need for a mask.

[Alan Fox]

A lot. Too much. A wasteful amount.

 Get a pulse oximeter and only use the mask if IT says you need to. Mask only over 18 may be a bit too conservative and terribly wasteful of oxygen. Never felt the need for a mask.

I have never used a mask , I use the nasal cannulas , they are much more efficient , and I use O2 at 9 k and above , reduces fatigue big time.....Oxygen is cheap...

[RJBrown]

I have never used a mask , I use the nasal cannulas , they are much more efficient , and I use O2 at 9 k and above , reduces fatigue big time.....Oxygen is cheap...

 

I agree.

Oxygen IS cheap until you run out. Then its priceless. I have worn a cannula up to 26 without a problem.