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Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:28:48 -0500
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Subject: RE: 360s at high altitudes
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Lorn,

Just a comment about your icing comment - the altitude at which you fly is
not really the issue, it is the temperature.  Once the temperature is more
than approximately 20 degrees below freezing, icing is not generally an
issue.

Thus, in the South in summertime you might fly at 17,500' and still be below
icing levels, while in the North in wintertime you may already be above
icing levels at takeoff (hope your heater is working well and you have
sealed all those pesky air leaks!).  I have taken off in Northern Indiana on
a solidly overcast day when the surface temperature was 20 degrees and the
ceiling was at 5,000' with no fear whatever of icing.  Punched out at
10,000' into beautiful (but cold!) air with not a hint of ice anywhere.

Conditions may vary!  Always be sure to get a COMPLETE weather briefing
before flying into any visible moisture!

Cheers,

Bill


-----Original Message-----
From: Lorn H Olsen [mailto:lorn@dynacomm.us] 
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 23:01
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: Re: 360s at high altitudes

Greg,

I think that the best altitude for my O-320 is 15,500'. At that altitude I
indicate 135 kts (not to sloppy flying) and true at 175 kts using 6 gph.

When I bought the plane in Carson City, NV, in 1998, I flew it across the
Rockies at 19,500' indicated and 22,500 density altitude. It didn't fly very
well at that altitude but it did fly!

I was flight planing my next trip from Detroit to Jacksonville yesterday and
noted that if I flew at flight level 190, I would indicate about 125 kts (a
little sloppy but doable) and have a 60 kt tailwind. I will be leaving
Friday and my altitude will depend on the wind. 2 weeks ago I flew halfway
back at 16,000' for the wind, and as the wind switched around, I went down
to 6,000'.

For Oxygen I have the Mountain High pulse demand system with a 10 ft^3 tank.
The tank lasts about 20 hours if filled to 1,800 lbs. The pulse demand
system makes the oxygen last about 5 times longer and stops your nose from
drying out.

One problem with these altitudes is that you can not fly into clouds because
of ice. Generally the clouds are icy above 15,000'.

Sometimes when I am flying high enough to see and avoid the tws, I hear and
feel sorry for the small planes down low that can't get to these altitudes.

I have standard 8.5 to 1 compression, 160 hp engine and standard wings
w/43 gal of fuel. A 360 will fly higher.

Lorn

From: kneaded pleasures <kneadedpleasures@sbcglobal.net>
> Date: November 23, 2008 9:55:11 AM GMT-05:00
>
> For those of you who have 360s, have you flown at high altitudes?   
> How often?  What special equipment do you have on your planes to 
> handle thin air, cooler temperatures, etc.?  How much oxygen capacity?  
> What flow rates?  Is it worthwhile to even go to those high altitudes?  
> What advantages have you actually realized (besides bragging rights)?
>
> I have an extended wing, low compression, LNC2 with 3-blade composite 
> prop and room for oxygen. Don't use plane for business but often fly 
> long cross-country legs to visit family and friends. Maybe high 
> altitudes are not for me but I can think of several nights I've spent 
> in hotels 'cause I couldn't go higher to avoid icing, wx and
> winds.    Greg Nelson
--
Lorn H. 'Feathers' Olsen, MAA, ASMEL, ASES, Comm, Inst DynaComm, Corp.,
248-345-0500, mailto:lorn@dynacomm.us LNC2, FB90/92, O-320-D1F, 1,497 hrs,
N31161, Y47, SE Michigan