Hi Ira,
I believe your service ceiling may be a little higher than 14,000 ft.
During my initial test period time I borrowed some oxygen gear and did a
service ceiling check on a Carolina Blue day. I did not take it up to
+100 fpm but when I was at 16,000 ft and I was still going up at > 200
fpm, I thought that was enough and it was getting chilly up there with
no cockpit heat. Details were as follows :-
Date: Feb.18, 2002
Estimated take off weight with ballast and full tank = 1312 lbs
Take off altitude = 968 ft MSL, OAT = 12 degC
After 30 min 55 sec, altitude = 16,000 ft MSL, OAT = -10 degC. Density
altitude = 15,617 ft. Rate of climb = 220 fpm.
Cheers, John
N262WF, XS mono, 912S, Whirlwind hydraulic constant speed prop.
(http://www.whirlwindaviation.com/series100.php)
Mooresville, North Carolina
ORIGINAL MESSAGE
Hey Ron,
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As for top altitudes, I do not recall seeing a published number, but that
should be part of your flight test program. Most people call it quits
at the DA where ROC100fpm. The true top is where Vs = Vy and
ROC is =0, but given that it take infinite time to reach, and the tank
holds less than 3 hours at max power, you will not get there.
In my test flying with a 912s, at 11000 DA, I was still climbing at > 400 fpm,
and I did not push further. Based on the rate of climb decay, I'll
guess the service ceiling for my plane is around 14k DA
-------- Ira N224XS
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