Chris W wrote:
Isn't this 30 *minute* reserve rule for day VFR flight a bit odd? Here are
2 examples to illustrate why I say that. In a J3 Cub you
are going to go just over 35 miles in those 30 minutes. In an RV-7,
you can go 100 miles with that same 30 minutes reserve. If there is
a head wind the difference is going be even greater. Both airplanes
need about the same length runway, yes I know the cub can land in
less space, but both need less than 1000 feet. Wouldn't a reserve
rule that stated the minimum distance you could fly in calm air be a
better rule?

It wouldn't be practical to require an aircraft to be able to fly a given
distance with the fuel reserve. Too many variables and they'd have to
publish distance requirements for each type aircraft. Wind, aircraft speed,
etc. A ridiculous (I know) extreme example would be to require an SR-71 to
have reserve fuel to fly a 30 minute distance at mach 3. That would be
about 900 miles.

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Darrell R. Schmidt
B-58 Hustler History: http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
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