Basically the
reason for the low rpm numbers while flying level is because the power was
pulled back. MAP was only 19. What rpm do you get at 19
MAP?
Al, I think that my RPM at that MAP is about 4400
RPM's, but I have a ground adjustable IVO, and I have changed it several
times, trying to see what changes I get in climb performance vs
cruise. I have flown quite a bit at 60-65% power, and I get a fuel
burn rate of about 7-8 gallons per hour, flying at about 140 kts. I
found that is probably my best "economy" cruise
setting.
The percent
power readout was about 65%, but how meaningful is that since I see on the
video of the engine monitor it showed 110% (290 hp) at 20 MAP as the power
was pulled back at the top of the climb. All it means is that the
mixture was too rich. Having to rely on a test pilot who is not that
familiar with the engine operation, or the instrumentation; definitely is a
drawback. But also, until I can get stable operation of the EC2, its hard to
draw any conclusions.
I know that there are different interpetations of the
FAR's, but there have been builders who fly with the test pilot to do engine
management and tuning. On those first few flights, when you are trying
to figure out a new plane, and watching all of the guages, engine tuning is
definitely a challenge. I think that two pilots for that task is a much
safer approach.
Steve Brooks