AirCommandPilot
Just a fledgeling
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2014
- Messages
- 618
- Location
- Houston
- Aircraft
- Air Command Elite #003
- Total Flight Time
- 88
I fly an Air Command Elite single that weighs in at a hefty 631 lbs. (831 lbs all up flying weight with pilot) Most of the extra weight is due to the 90 hp Subaru EA82 and PSRU. I'm flying under 25' SkyWheels. The engine produces 450 lbs of thrust with a 68" 4 blade Warp Drive.
During the winter months, I didn't have a VSI, but it took off nicely with lots of lift. Now that the heat and humidity has set in, I'm not getting any where near the climb rate I expect or need. It seems to get a small "bump" of lift right when I leave the runway, but as I try to climb out, I'm only getting up to 50-100 fpm if I'm lucky. Occasionally I'll get under a cloud and get 400-500 fpm for a few seconds. The density altitude last Saturday was only around 2300'.
What types of improvements can I do to the machine to get the lift I need?
Lift--- Take off at 10:00
No Lift--- Take off at 3:30
During the winter months, I didn't have a VSI, but it took off nicely with lots of lift. Now that the heat and humidity has set in, I'm not getting any where near the climb rate I expect or need. It seems to get a small "bump" of lift right when I leave the runway, but as I try to climb out, I'm only getting up to 50-100 fpm if I'm lucky. Occasionally I'll get under a cloud and get 400-500 fpm for a few seconds. The density altitude last Saturday was only around 2300'.
What types of improvements can I do to the machine to get the lift I need?
Lift--- Take off at 10:00
No Lift--- Take off at 3:30
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