We flew our 320 out to the Copperstate fly-in
in Casa Grande, AZ last weekend. A great fly-in with perfect wx. Several
Lancairians were there competing in the Fuelventure 400 race.
The race has two classifications; one is pure MPG.
Whoever burns the least fuel on the 400 sm course wins.
The other is a CAFE foumula that takes into account
speed, fuel burn and payload.
It would be hard to imagine airplanes better suited
to compete on an efficiency basis than Lancairs. There were 2 Legacys, 1 - 360
and 1 - 320 in the competition in the 750-1,000 kg weight class
( 1,654 - 2,205 lbs). Being the most underpowered (a relative term), our
little 320 won both categories.
On Sunday we attempted to see if we could get back
to Virginia nonstop. An interesting project to say the least. With good wx,
slight tailwinds and a bottle of oxygen we were able to make it...barely. Here
are some interesting comparisons to other forms of transportation.
Bill Harrelson
N5ZQ 320 1,700 hrs
N6ZQ IV under construction
Casa Grande, Arizona (KCGZ) to Orange, VA
(KOMH)
Our flight time: 9 hrs 20
mins, nonstop 13,500, 15,500 and 17,500 ft.
distance flown 2,006
sm,
fuel used 49.9
gallons,
average speed
211 mph
actual fuel mileage
39.4 mpg.
49.9 gal avgas @ 3.75/gal =
$187.12
fuel burn per person (2 people): 24.9
gallons
cost per person:
$93.56
Yahoo maps driving directions shows the following
distance and driving time from Casa Grande to Orange.
This would require 3 hard days of driving, 2
nights in a hotel plus food.
Trip distance: 2351 mi
Time: 34 hrs 35 mins
If your car got 30 miles/gal you would use 78.3 gallons.
78.3 gallons @ $2.50/gal = $195.75 plus hotels and
food.
fuel burn per person (2 people): 39.15
cost per person: $97.87 plus hotel and food.
The best airline schedule is UAL #952. Nonstop PHX
- IAD other flights require intermediate stops and add 2-5
hours.
Flight time 4 hrs 19 mins.
Drive from Casa Grande to PHX airport 1
hr.
Arrive PHX 1 hour before
flight.
Arrive IAD unload and take shuttle to main
terminal, retrieve baggage 30 min.
Drive to Orange
1:30
Total elapsed time:
8:19
Estimated fuel burn: 27,000 lbs = 4,030
gallons. (B-757, 3 class seating)
Fuel burn per person (110 seats): 36.6
gallons (does not include fuel burned
driving)
Cheapest fare:
$418