We now have around 15 hours behind us with the PV50 electric variable pitch
prop. It has performed very well and is a real advantage when taking off hot
high and heavy, as we did several times on the way to the French RSA rally at
Epinal and then over the Jura mountains to Annemasse, a small airfield on the
south side of lake Geneva. We left there at 10 AM, about 24 deg C already and
climbed immediately to 5,500 QNH to cross Geneva and the mountains a few miles
beyond. From there it was a downhill cruise to 3500 which was our prefered
altitude across central France. We were eventually pushed down to 400 ft for the
last few miles into Le Touquet. Fortunately the weather relented a bit after
lunch and a couple of hours and around 6 PM we took off again for the 2 and a
1/2 hour flight to Tatenhill.
For much of the 10 1/2 hours and 1100 n.miles we cruised at 3,800 rpm and
110/115 knots. Interesting how untidy flying quickly knocks off a few revs and
5
kts. A nice thermal will often give a 5 kt bonus for a while. Even in the
hottest conditions, up to 28 deg C, oil never went higher than 88deg and water
96. Methinks we can reduce the cooling air inlet area a bit. Fuel burn was about
12 liters /hour. Average ground speed 105 kts. including all take offs and
landings.
Back nearer home we tried cruising at 4,500 rpm which gives 124 kts or so.
Now that the ratio of bounces to landings is around 20% and falling we are
really beginning to enjoy the aeroplane. It's comfortable ride, even in
thermals, good useful load, decent cruise speed and modest thirst for fuel make
it a very practical touring vehicle, especially across the Channel.
Graham
|