Single-engine plane with the best range?

"Stealth Pilot" wrote in message
...
never hinted that it was immune from anything.

True, you didn't hint at it. You just came right out and claimed it. Bob
wrote "the range for any aircraft is dependent on power setting", and you
wrote "my experience doesnt [sic] support that". When in fact the range for
any aircraft IS dependent on power setting.

Bob's statement was somewhat inaccurate in that 50% power may or may not
produce best range, and may not even be better range than normal cruise.
But it's impossible that your experience would contradict that the range is
dependent on power setting, because range DOES depend on power setting.

[...]
the overall performance of an aircraft is the result of the
performance of a lot of its component systems. selecting one in
isolation wont necessarily give you a clue as to the final figures for
the overall aircraft.

The basic aerodynamic characteristic -- namely, the fact that there's a
L/Dmax, and that flying slower or faster than that speed causes an increase
in drag -- is immutable. The specifics may indeed change based on "the
performance of a lot of its component systems", but the fact will always
remain that there will always been a speed at which the least drag occurs,
and that flying above or below that speed will result in more fuel consumed
for the same distance.

btw I wasnt making any attempt at best range. I was merely flying
across 300 miles of desert with a chap in a piper cub for moral
support. you do assume a lot in some of your comments.

Such as? All I have done is disagree with statements that YOU MADE. I made
no assumptions, I took your false statements at face value and explained why
they MUST be false. I never said that you were making an attempt at best
range. What I said was that your experience could not have contradicted the
FACT that range depends on power setting.

now instead of leaping down my throat can you give the guy who asked
the original question some assistance in selecting a suitable
aircraft?

His question is far too broad for any answer to be useful. I tried to make
a sensible reply when his first post showed up, and found that there was not
enough information in his original question to provide any concise answer.
I doubt he was looking for the three-page reply it would have required, nor
did I have any interest in spending that much time writing such a reply.

IMHO, he has been provided plenty of *accurate* information in this
thread -- your own posts notwithstanding -- to inform him regarding the
issues specific to range, and a few different types of aircraft that might
suit his needs. His budget is going to be the limiting factor in any case,
and with only $40K to spend, none of the aircraft he might consider is going
to go all that far with one fillup.

Pete