Apparently, flight testing has revealed that my Luscombe is good for a 120 knots indicated. I'll break with the long established traditions of aviators and anglers and I'll tell the truth: HI doesn't do 120 knots. However, in her defense, HI will do a quite respectable 90 knots with the power set 2350 rpm. This speed was established by taking GPS-based averages into- and down- wind.
In terms of maximum speed, Pete didn't want to run the engine full out for too long but he thought that 110 was HI's top speed. I'm happy with 90 knots though. Given that I'm still a novice pilot, it's probably a good idea that the plane and my brain travel at the same speed for now. All of my training was done at that speed and its a handy number for mental calculations - 1.5 nautical miles a minute. That's an easy enough number for time and distance calculations. For navigation calculations, the maximum drift in degrees can be calculated by the following rule of thumb:
(60/TAS) X Wind Speed = Max Drift
With a speed of 90 knots, that calculation can be simplified:
Wind Speed / (90/60) = Max Drift
or
Wind Speed / 1.5 = Max Drift.
....well in my head, it's easier.
All of the rest of test data has been gathered at this stage and the paperwork is to be submitted to the LAA in the coming days. Pete's going to do some more shake-down flying. There have already been a few tweaks - the brakes have been adjusted, new oil filter that sort of thing. It's nearly nearly ready to come home, if only I could say the same about me.
120 knots a Luscombe, that would be good, particularly flying her home over the Irish Sea.
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