Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I decided I would try and hit Vne today for the first time with my 0-360 and "Performance Propellers" wood prop. It didn't take long. With the DA at -2000, I figured what heck, so I pushed the throttle in at 2500MSL, 4*C, 30.54 inches, I richened up the mixture some, and at about 2450 or 2500RPM (I had what felt like a ton of throttle left), I was at Vne very quickly. I pulled back the throttle and leaned to about 75* ROP and climbed to about 5,500 MSL, then continued on my little 1.7 hour flight at about 155 knots on about 8GPH at about 2250-2300RPM with CHTs at 330 and all within 10* of each . I really enjoy my plane with these cold temps. My plane weighs 1000# and I had 43 gallons of fuel on board. I could have flown for a looong time.

As an aside, I put new seats in my plane and the new ones have me sitting much higher. I had no idea how much my seating height affected my landings. Prior to the new seats, I had to look out at 45 degrees to try and judge my landings. I got good at them, but now that I can see over the nose coming in for landings, man what a difference!

Sounds like a fun day with an anti gravity machine!
Cubes

I returned from Atlanta yesterday at 5500 and airports were reporting density altitudes at minus 1500 made for some great airspeeds. Thorps love that cold dry air. As a side note, RYY McCollum Field charges $50 ramp fee and a $5.00 per day security fee and we wonder why aviation does not fly.

We have to dig a big hole and fly 2500 feet deep to find DAs of 2000 MSL.....even deeper in the summer.

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)