Range

[alun]

Hi,

I was looking at the specs of the M20J - 201 here:

http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Mooney/47.htm

I don't understand the range figure.  They give 690nm and a cruise of 170kts.  This equates to about 4 hours flying.  With a 64 gallon tank, 4 hours flying is a fuel rate of 16 gallons/hr.  This is much higher than I was expecting - I thought the Mooney was more like 10-11 gals/hr which equates to around 850 nm.  Which is correct?.   

Cheers,

Al.

[jrjaks]

I usually plan on 5 hours at 150 kts for a maximum distance flight, and that ends up with over an hour reserve.  I can usually beat that speed, but it makes a good planning reference.  Also, I try to keep the legs to 4 hours, for comfort's sake.

[TurboExec]

All I know is my gas tanks will go longer than my bladder, and I haven't got the nerve to use a bottle with the new interior yet!

[67M20F]

I hear you there. Still trying to let my plane go down for that new interior. If its not my bladder its on of my pax. Cant seem to get longer that about 2.5-3.5 hrs. Not much fuel burn in that.

[fantom]

Max range with IFR reserve is about 5.5 hours @ 158 kts. At 65% I've got 6.5 hours of fuel. I've also got a Tupperware bottle.

[m20j]

Just flew our 201 with the family  El Paso - Chicago nonstop -- 1050 nm, 6.5 hours, 13 gallons reserve on a 64 gallon tank.

That works out to:

* 7.8 gallons / hr, 2300 rpm LOP.

* 162 knots groundspeed average door-door with a nice tailwind the entire trip (unusual, I must add).

* 24 statue MPG

How can you not love this plane?

 

[The-sky-captain]

That's a heckuva long time to be sitting left seat. Those numbers are pretty impressive. Like they say... That's why we fly Mooneys!

[fantom]

That site is flat out wrong, Al.

Your expectations are correct.

 

[N57039]

Jeff, Questions on your El Paso - Chicago flight. How many in your family? You had to have been at O2 atitudes for that fuel burn rate. Was everyone on oxygen? Were you anywhere near MGTOW with family, fuel, O2 and bags on board?

I use Little John Jrs for my in flight physiological needs on the longer runs. They work great.

[m20j]

Quote: N57039

Jeff, Questions on your El Paso - Chicago flight. How many in your family? You had to have been at O2 atitudes for that fuel burn rate. Was everyone on oxygen? Were you anywhere near MGTOW with family, fuel, O2 and bags on board?

I use Little John Jrs for my in flight physiological needs on the longer runs. They work great.

[KSMooniac]

Last Thursday I flew back from Vegas to Wichita non-stop in 5:51, and used 49 gallons.  It was ~900 NM, and I didn't get much help from a tailwind for the first 4 hours due to unstable mountain wave activity.  11.5k feet, WOT and 2600 RPM, 10-20 LOP at  7.8 GPH.  Hard to beat a Mooney!

[Parker_Woodruff]

Quote: KSMooniac

Last Thursday I flew back from Vegas to Wichita non-stop in 5:51, and used 49 gallons.  It was ~900 NM, and I didn't get much help from a tailwind for the first 4 hours due to unstable mountain wave activity.  11.5k feet, WOT and 2600 RPM, 10-20 LOP at  7.8 GPH.  Hard to beat a Mooney!

[The-sky-captain]

Just to revisit this thread.  Here we are four years later.  100LL at my airport is now $5.85 a gallon, which is right at 2 times what it was in 2009.  I spent a bunch of time at my airport last weekend and didn't see any Sun-n-Fun traffic.  Not good. 

 

I do fly LOP now, though, which is nice. 

 

Jim

It's bittersweet to go back and read old posts on gas prices and other conversation pieces. Gas at my home AP is now $6.30 but i fill up nearby for $4.75. My in laws are a current destination an hour away and have cheap fuel as well. Every bit helps. LOP for me now too for many of my trips.

[carusoam]

Car fuel has dropped to post Katrina prices...over $3.00 a gallon!

Best regards,

-a-