Leaning / step climbing?

aaronw wrote in
:

I fly underneath a Class B airspace (Washington). My question is that
while I am leaving the area on a flight, I will often end up climbing
up higher as I get further from my departure airport as I get under
the shelves that are higher up. ... should I lean at each
altitude, or is it better to just let it go until I have stabilized at
my cruising altitude and then lean accordingly?

Most Class-B's have that little trick. They never "quite" let you in...
just step you up right below the floor.

The answer to your question in part depends upon how long you are going
to be in cruise at each altitude, and how big the step climb is. If the
steps are small, and far apart, then you can lean some and probably
still climb without going back to a richer setting. [Remember, it will
be getting richer automatically as you climb.] With something like a
1000 foot climb, if I am at reduced RPM, I will probably just leave it
there for the climb - whereas if I am climbing 10K feet I will certainly
want to go back to max RPM.

Another suggestion - consider climbing at a cruise-climb rate. You will
get out from under the shelf faster and keep the engine cooler. Ideally
you will just sort of "continue" your climb from sector to sector.

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James M. Knox
TriSoft ph 512-385-0316
1109-A Shady Lane fax 512-366-4331
Austin, Tx 78721
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