OWT

[jlunseth]

I flew from Flying Cloud in Eden Prairie to Eureka, KS (13K), which is south of Emporia.  Moderate turbulence below 8000 and some LLWS near KMCI were both reported, and of course there was no way to get above them.  Actually, the best place was right near the ground from a GS standpoint so I flew 2500 the whole way down, which does not make for a smooth ride in the spring.  Just a little higher, at 6000, the winds were reported to be in the 50's so that was not a choice.   

What struck me most about it though, was how difficult it was to land that thing in gusty winds with anything of a crosswind.  It was just sort of a plop down and bounce around landing method. Then if you don't pull back on the yoke during the rollout, you get the "Cessna Shimmy."   Again, apologies to Cessna people everywhere, I am sure there are lots of good Cessna's out there.  This one was just soooo sloooooooooow. 

I am lonesome for my own plane.

[KSMooniac]

I don't envy that trip!  I too find a Mooney much better on days like this.  The 182RG I used to fly around here wasn't nearly as bad as a 172, but I still prefer the Mooney.

If you need a lunch run this weekend, head over to K81 (Paola/Miami County) for on-site BBQ that is very good.  My plane is apart for annual right now, so I don't get to enjoy the nice weather we will likely have this weekend.

Good luck with tailwinds going home!

[testwest]

So I would like to un-creep this thread for Dave Freeman....before you do the Advanced Pilot class, you can go back and read Bob Kromer's article called Engine Power Settings For Climb and The Myth of Climbing At Reduced Power, it is located on this site, here:

http://www.mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?mainaction=posts&forumid=3&threadid=90

The executive summary, which you can use on your very next flight, is:

Climb your M20J at wide open throttle, maximum rated rpm, above 3000' density altitude start leaning to stay just rich of the "red box" (you will learn that on the Advanced Pilot class, for now just stay at about the EGT seen just after takeoff), climb speed around 120 knots, and modulate the cowl flaps to keep the CHTs and/or oil temp in the upper 1/8 of the green arc. Use full cowl flaps only if needed, trail them as soon as temps permit.

Ever since I first read Kromer's article, I have climbed our M20J this way. For all NA M20s it's much faster to cruise altitude, and faster to get that wonderful Mooney acceleration to cruise feeling...you know, "kicking up the tail". Once the tail is kicked up, reduce to your cruise RPM, leave the throttle wide open and lean while respecting the red box. I am almost always cruising between 9000-11000 feet, the M20J loves it up there!

And boy was I happy to discover I could climb cowl flaps closed with the Lopresti cowl on a reasonably cool day!

Climbing at 25 square is a myth. Climbiing this engine/airframe combo at reduced power is a myth. "Some" manufacturers have let the climb-reduced-power myth creep into their POHs. It's not in ours, fortunately.

If you don't have one, a full engine analyzer like the new JPI EDM-730 or -830, or one of the new Auracle units, is the absolute best money you can spend on a piston engined airplane.

You'll run into CFIs and other pilots who still believe the old dogma. Hand 'em a copy of  Kromer's article...ask them if their credentials are better than Bob Kromer's (they won't be) and if they still think their way is correct, ask them what facts and data they have to support their position. It will always be "I learned this from my CFI, or there was this old pilot who always hung around the airport and that's what he did, blah blah blah." 

You reply to them: "I fly my airplane on facts and data, not dogma."

Let us know about your next flight Dave!!

[testwest]

Hmm, I can't seem to edit my post, I wanted to refine the 3000' density altitude guideline as 175 deg ROP.

DISregard, I figured it out with a lot of help from carusoam, below. I love this board.

[carusoam]

to edit: 

[1] click on the edit button to the right of your post...

[2] submit the changed post by clicking on "edit" at the very bottom of the newly changed post.

The button is mislabled.  If you hover over it, sometimes, it will indicate "submit".....

-a-

Edited 2 minutes after original submission....

-a- 

[SWI_Bob]

Quote: KLRDMD

I figger what we need about now is a good ole thread on Old Wives Tales (OWT).

[testwest]

I always thought naptha was the fluid in a "whiskey" compass.

Seems most of the OWTs reveolve around piston engine operations....

And thanks for that edit tip.....le't see if this NOOB can make it work.

Yep, it works!

[davidfreedman]

Norman,

Your response is tremendously helpful!  I appreciate the specificity.  My current technique for the record:  I back off to 25 squared at around 500AGL...get that that this is pointless.  I'm 90-100kts to 3000AGL then 100-110...a somewhat steep climb with the intention of getting high quickly without getting too far from the strip in case of an engine failure.  I start leaning at 3000 DA but have no concept of the "red box."  Cowls typically wide open to cruise altitude (I tend to get hot given the agressive climb).  I'm working to keep my CHTs under 400 and oil temp under 200.  At cruise I lean to 100ROP and either close or half-close cowls depending on CHT/Oil temp.  I cruise throttle wide open and 2500RPM.

I've got a JPI 800.  Just called the avionics shop that's doing my 480 software upgrade and they quoted a solid deal ($1050) on the 830 upgrade given that the probes are already in place.  That'll save me a bunch of cycling during critical phases of flight.

 

I'll keep you posted and thank you again!

[testwest]

You are welcome! Try that 120 KIAS climb after pattern altitude, let us know how it goes.

[dlthig]

Quote: SWI_Bob

How about this one: I have come across wet compass's that were filled with whiskey, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, baby oil.

 

Alcohol will remove the paint from the compass card."

Wet compass's use to use kerosine, now they use a derivative of kerosine.

 

I recall the compass was filled with acid free white kerosine, but it's been a while. I'm having some quote problems.

[SWI_Bob]

Quote: dlthig

How about this one: I have come across wet compass's that were filled with whiskey, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, baby oil.

 

Alcohol will remove the paint from the compass card."

Wet compass's use to use kerosine, now they use a derivative of kerosine.

 

I recall the compass was filled with acid free white kerosine, but it's been a while. I'm having some quote problems.

[Jeff_S]

Okay, I was going to do a short rant about the correct spelling of the word "kerosene" but I decided to fact-check myself first. Sure enough, dictionary.com lists an alternate spelling of "kerosine".  Go figure!