Flying a PA-28 140 from Maine to Georgia in a week end ...

Ok, I have to admit, for me to plan a flight with 30 minute fuel
reserve, I have to start with full tanks. Otherwise there're just too
many variables to do it safely.


Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:



Never really found out. Personally, I think fuel was stolen at Freeport.

I contend a better way to set power is needed in fixed pitch A/C. We
had a manifold pressure gage in our 172. Others thought it was
guilding a lily, but fuel consumption could be predicted within maybe 4
percent. A tachometer is so variable w altitude.

nrp wrote:

I contend a better way to set power is needed in fixed pitch A/C. We
had a manifold pressure gage in our 172. Others thought it was
guilding a lily, but fuel consumption could be predicted within maybe 4
percent. A tachometer is so variable w altitude.


How does a tachometer vary with altitude? The tachometer reads
accurately at most any altitude.


Matt

M wrote:

Ok, I have to admit, for me to plan a flight with 30 minute fuel
reserve, I have to start with full tanks. Otherwise there're just too
many variables to do it safely.

Even with full tanks, there are too many variables to really fly down to
30 minutes left. Just being a little off level when you fill your tanks
can make enough difference to make 30 minutes dicey in a plane that
burns less than 6 gallons in 30 minutes. That isn't much margin.

Matt