How many rpm do you guys run at cruise?

[DC3]

Can I just jump in and point out that some areas of the world still use quadrantal rules for cruise levels, not "round thousands = IFR, +500 = VFR"?

A lot of countries still use four levels for cruising, whether VFR or IFR, based on your ground track: Ground track 0-89 degrees = odd thousands, 90-179 degrees = odd thousands + 500, 180-269 degrees = even thousands, 270-359 degrees = even thousands + 500.

Not everyone everywhere is controlled by the FAA and their rules.

Wow, being a U.S. pilot I never considered another system. This is very interesting. I don't want to hijack this thread so I will start another thread about this. I wonder how many different systems there are in the world. I believe a lot of sim pilots fly at whatever level is comfortable to them which would also be an interesting topic. Unlike the big iron which like the highest altitudes they can get and are under ATC control, ga vfr aircraft have a lot more choices.

I remember one pilot I used to talk to a lot who insisted that you should never fly VFR at a round thousand or five hundred foot interval, because that's where everyone else is. Fly at 3,200' or 2,700' and you're in clear air. A near miss is better than a mid-air collision.

He might not have been following the rules, but he had a point!

Ian P.

I knew that guy too! I often wondered if he would run into someone with the same philosophy. I also considered flying a little above or below the designated altitude for the same reasons but in the end I just stayed at the designated altitude. But I knew quite a few pilots that thought it was a good idea to fly a little above or below. That kind of made me feel that I might be the only one at the assigned altitude. My Cherokee (Archer and Warrior flying days) were in California where the people are all independent thinkers with their own ideas about things!

[robert41]

Robert41

Be careful about comparing ground speeds. Those are a factor of winds, altitude, temperature and air pressure. True airspeed is the way to compare on even terms.

I'll look at the performance charts and weather conditions to decide my cruise altitude and then decide upon a power setting. Above 6000 feet I regularly run at 2600 rpm in a 172. I forget what I put the Cherokee up to.

Yes, very true.
But I was not trying to compare all things being exactly equal.
Setting clear weather, full fuel, 180lb pilot, no pass/baggage.
Climb to 5000ft, 2500RPM.
The 172 shift2 panel shows 118kt Ground Speed. The Cherokee shows 125kt GS.

[domini99]

Can I just jump in and point out that some areas of the world still use quadrantal rules for cruise levels, not "round thousands = IFR, +500 = VFR"?

A lot of countries still use four levels for cruising, whether VFR or IFR, based on your ground track: Ground track 0-89 degrees = odd thousands, 90-179 degrees = odd thousands + 500, 180-269 degrees = even thousands, 270-359 degrees = even thousands + 500.

Not everyone everywhere is controlled by the FAA and their rules.

I remember one pilot I used to talk to a lot who insisted that you should never fly VFR at a round thousand or five hundred foot interval, because that's where everyone else is. Fly at 3,200' or 2,700' and you're in clear air. A near miss is better than a mid-air collision.

He might not have been following the rules, but he had a point!

Ian P.

This sounds actually very smart, but I don't think VoxAtc will allow me.

You all do realize, this is the first and only kind of conversation going on on flight simulation regarding cruise settings, especially using a fixed pitch prop. These are exactly the kinds of conversations you have with other pilots or discussions on the aircraft forums. This is largely because Accu-Sim is the only flight sim technology and physics available to provide this level of accuracy.

This conversation can be taken directly into the cockpit of the actual aircraft.

Scott.

And that's why we all play with Accu-Sim. Its like flying the real thing

[Tug002]

I usually cruse at 80% throttle with it leaned to give me a 5-7 GPH burn. This is how my father taught me to fly as we had to pay for the fuel . Not fast but relaxing . Easy on the engine too .

Keep smiling
Tug

[domini99]

I usually cruse at 80% throttle with it leaned to give me a 5-7 GPH burn. This is how my father taught me to fly as we had to pay for the fuel . Not fast but relaxing . Easy on the engine too .

Keep smiling
Tug

I often used to fly my grandpa's 182 (while I'm not a pilot at all ) and while he was sitting next to me, he always wanted me to get the fuel usage as low as possible, and told me to keep the indicator below the white line (partitially glass cockpit) at all times, except when climbing. This made me fly as fuel efficient as possible in FSX too, I even once had a Vatsim controller ask me to go faster as he knew my plane could do it

[Ian P]

It appears (although this is Wonkypedia, to take it with a pinch of salt) that us weird Brits are now the only people using Quadrantal rules...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_level

Cheers.

Ian P.

[Shalomar]

The original post mentioned an altitude of 5000 feet. Anywhere above that I run at 2500 RPM but at say 2500 altitude it's 2200-2300 RPM. You aren't pushing a normally aspirated engine as hard at the same or even higher RPM if you factor in a few thousand feet more altitude.

[DC3]

It appears (although this is Wonkypedia, to take it with a pinch of salt) that us weird Brits are now the only people using Quadrantal rules...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_level

Cheers.

Ian P.

So I was reading the 'Wonkypedia' article and found the following which is also different than FAA rules.

Countries where the major airways are oriented north/south (e.g. New Zealand; Italy; Portugal) have semicircular rules that define a North/South rather than an East/West track split.

In Italy and Portugal, for example, southbound traffic uses odd flight levels; in New Zealand, southbound traffic uses even flight levels.

So, in those countries, 'Odd people fly south, not east... except for New Zealand where everyone is confused ... <just kidding>'

[domini99]

Am i doing this right

[Tug002]

Hey there domini99, I would say that will cost you a complete rebuild. Bent valves, scored cylinders likely a rod through a piston and the list goes on

Keep smiling
Tug

[Dogsbody55]

Am i doing this right

If you go any faster, you'll bend the needle on the gauge. THEN you'll be in trouble


Cheers,
Mike

[domini99]

Hey there domini99, I would say that will cost you a complete rebuild. Bent valves, scored cylinders likely a rod through a piston and the list goes on

Keep smiling
Tug

*lands back on flying club's airfield*
Hey this Piper's engine is running a little rough.
*opens hood*
....

Am i doing this right

If you go any faster, you'll bend the needle on the gauge. THEN you'll be in trouble


Cheers,
Mike

And there's something wrong with the tachometer


After landing there was just a little damage. The crankshaft was gone and 3 out of the 4 cylinders had to be replaced. "Little damage "

[Cycliste1961]

This simple question and the lenghty response it provoked shows the enthusiasm of this community about flying this airplane. This is just great!
Flying the Cherokee instinctively, I realized that I was cruising with a higher RPM than the C172. Fuel burn has been steady at 7 gph. I keep the machine at 120 KTS IAS and fly with 1 passenger with 50-75% fuel capacity.

I am doing a cross country across Canada and just love flying this aircraft. The landings, also a major topic, are much different than the 172.

These just show how real simming is coming to. I am quite happy to read threads about flying instead of threads about technical issues

[n421nj]

The shift+2 window shows your fuel burn and endurance.

[domini99]

The shift+2 window shows your fuel burn and endurance.

Thank you! Never knew that before