I always told my friends flying Bonanzas, etc. the on the same trip I get to do a lot more flying than they do. And flying is why we have a plane isn't it? Dan C
On Aug 13, 2010, at 9:51 PM, Jerry Ward wrote: > > Fantastic idea - I shall incorporate it in my trip. I believe my coupe is > capable of getting easy 3.75 gal/hr. I have seen it. And so that would > certainly be way up there in the 25 to 30 mpg range. I have to hope for fair > winds as well. The head winds can really take the wind out of my sails. I > sure do love tail winds and it makes for much better mileage as well. I will > be using those web sites looking for places that sell Mogas. I am taking off > next Friday for the trip of my life. I can't wait.. thanks so much for all > your help. Jerry > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Ed Burkhead > To: [email protected] > Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 10:45 AM > Subject: [ercoupe-tech] don't think I could afford ... $5-$6/gallon > > > > I can seriously sympathize with that concern, Jerry. But, there are > some thing that might help. > > You mention hoping that during your trip around the USA you'll be able > to find places that sell mogas. I'm sure you can. There are online > websites that can help you with planning your stops. > > Consider this, too: if you are not greatly time limited, you might try > slow-cruising instead of drill high-speed holes in the air. > > At 2400 rpm with my flat, climb prop, I'd get 5.4 gallons per hour at > almost exactly 100 mph. Some have mentioned using up to 6 gph when > getting speeds around 108. These numbers do vary based on the drag of > the particular plane. > > All these planes will get substantially better miles per gallon if they > slow down. This is discussed in detail in chapter 19, The Working > Speeds of an Airplane, in the book Stick and Rudder. > > A plane that gets 19 mpg at what we mostly think of as "cruise speed" > can get near 30 mpg when flown at the "speed of best distance." > > I just plotted out a circumnavigation of the USA, touching the corners > more or less and it came out about 8200 miles. At 19 miles per gallon > that's 432 gallons at $5/gallon = $2,150 and 82 flying hours. > > The same trip at 78 mph could get approaching 30 mpg - I'll use 27 mpg > in my calculations: > 304 gallons at $5/gallon = $1518 and would take 105 flying hours. > > The slow cruise takes 28 flying hours longer. It saves $630 in fuel but > you'd spend some of that on extra motel costs if you aren't camping or > staying with Coupers or other relatives along the way. > > And, this applies equally to local flight costs when you are just up > drilling holes in the air, enjoying being off the ground. It could cost > $14.4/hour slow cruising versus $26.2/hour at high speed cruise. > > The price differentials get bigger when fuel prices go higher than > $5/gallon. > > I've enjoyed many slow flights. > > Just thinking. > > Ed > > > >
