Finally made it into the flight levels

[jordane93]

FL410 = 41,000'
FL180 = 18,000'
FL105 = 10,500'

Flight levels start at 18,000 ft in the US. It's just 10,500 ft.

 

[paflyer]

Flight levels start at 18,000 ft in the US. It's just 10,500 ft.

Well the altimeter setting was close enough to count as far as FAR/AIM definition is concerned.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

[Zeldman]

So those of you who have been up to FL250 in an unpressurized plane, is there a lot of farting going on? There must be a lot of intestinal air that wants to come out really badly when you get up there. Serious question.

That's why I only go up that high with 3 or more people in the plane. With 2 people it is immediately known who violated the airspace. With three or more people it becomes the guessing game...

 

[Kritchlow]

FL105!?

Ahhh.... Maybe he was in the Caribbean where many flight levels start as low as FL40.

 

[Kritchlow]

FL410 = 41,000'
FL180 = 18,000'
FL105 = 10,500'

Flight levels are not equivalent to altitudes. Both are read off your altimeter, but do not say FL410 is equal to 41,000 feet.

 

[paflyer]

Flight levels are not equivalent to altitudes. Both are read off your altimeter, but do not say FL410 is equal to 41,000 feet.

"Kritchlow has not made any friends yet"

 

[Kritchlow]

"Kritchlow has not made any friends yet"

I guess that's some sort of dig??

Anyway, what I said is truth. Advising anyone otherwise is incorrect.

 

[Kritchlow]

"Kritchlow has not made any friends yet"

LMFAO!!! Just checked your profile....

 

[denverpilot]

Wow. That must've taken....a while.

We've taken the RV to 15.5. We came much of the way back from OSH at 14.5. That was high enough. The engine is making so little horsepower up there that the only advantage to being that high is (a) it's cool and smooth, and/or (b) the headwind is less or the tailwind is better.

Our sweet spot is usually 6500' - 8500'.

Pattern altitude.

I don't know why but I get really uncomfortable up high.
I'm not taking real high either.

Last flight was 11k and just felt uneasy.
Not sure what it is exactly.

Leadville pattern altitude.

That's why I only go up that high with 3 or more people in the plane. With 2 people it is immediately known who violated the airspace. With three or more people it becomes the guessing game...

ROFLMAO!

 

[Kelvin]

So those of you who have been up to FL250 in an unpressurized plane, is there a lot of farting going on? There must be a lot of intestinal air that wants to come out really badly when you get up there. Serious question.

Altitude induced flatulance is real. Look it up.

 

[paflyer]

LMFAO!!! Just checked your profile....

Maybe we can be each other's first friend

 

[onwards]

It's not Alpha, but I have flown my 182 at over 16k, mask and all, for an hour or so, in order to avoid really ugly weather. I'd rather not do that again.

 

[Mtns2Skies]

It's not Alpha, but I have flown my 182 at over 16k, mask and all, for an hour or so, in order to avoid really ugly weather. I'd rather not do that again.

In the winter, when just me + fuel. I got an Archer to 17,800. I'd also rather not do that again.

 

[mryan75]

Had the Cherokee at FL105 this past weekend to get over clouds.

105,000 feet in a Cherokee? C'mon, you're pulling our legs!

 

[paflyer]

105,000 feet in a Cherokee? C'mon, you're pulling our legs!

FL105 = 10,500'

 

[Clark1961]

In the winter, when just me + fuel. I got an Archer to 17,800. I'd also rather not do that again.

I've had the 'kota to FL180 westbound. The TAS was fun, the GS wasn't. It was better than being down in the clouds and rocks...

O2 was just a cannula so blood sats weren't real satisfactory. Had to really concentrate on breathing to stay at 90%

 

[MooneyDriver78]

FL105 = 10,500'

I think FAA needs to add some flight level questions to PP written test.

 

[NoHeat]

So those of you who have been up to FL250 in an unpressurized plane, is there a lot of farting going on? There must be a lot of intestinal air that wants to come out really badly when you get up there. Serious question.

I've done 25,000 feet with about a dozen people in the altitude chamber.

Yes, flatulence happens to some people, according to the chamber operator. He told us to expect that could happen, and he advised against eating a burrito beforehand. (This was in Houston, where burritos were plentiful.) After that briefing, I thought I was sure to notice if it happened.

But I didn't notice it. I found that while wearing a big O2 mask during the pumpdown I couldn't smell anything. And the noise level in the chamber, while quieter than in a plane, was still a factor. So if anyone passed gas while going from sea level to a simulated 25,000', I didn't notice.

 

[petrolero]

I do FL190 and FL200 pretty regularly. We monitor and maintain our SpO2 sats at 91% or greater. Not a big deal. Legality aside, the concept of requiring full face masks above FL180 is from the era before cockpit pulse-ox became available. It doesn't matter how it gets in your blood as long as it's in your blood. The law needs to be amended IMO. Yeah you probably need a full mask at some point to keep from wasting O's.

The downside to FL190, where it was 24 degrees F on my July 5 trip to Dallas, is actually cooling for my airplane. The air up there is half the pressure of sea level and, although it's cold, there aren't as many molecules per unit of volume. So I fly along at cruise power indicating only 120 to 125 KIAS (170 to 175 KTAS, which is why I go up there). So it's like being in a shallow climb for the whole trip. I have cowl flaps full open and I'm still running higher CHT than I do at 11k or 12k feet. Temps are manageable in summer and just fine in winter.

Honestly there's not much need for me to be up there, but I do it because my wife hates turbulence more than she hates breathing O2. It gets me above virtually all the turbulence and buildups on most days, I'll virtually always be VMC up there, and it makes Kansas prettier.

Winds aloft have so far never been my reasoning for going up there.

 

[paflyer]

I think FAA needs to add some flight level questions to PP written test.

Absolutely. Go read the FAR/AIM. 2014 version page 1216.

 

[RudyP]

So I fly along at cruise power indicating only 120 to 125 KIAS (170 to 175 KTAS, which is why I go up there).

Wow, that's faster than I would have expected a turbo 182 to cruise at even in the low flight levels. Pretty impressive!

 

[ybitz]

I got a 172 to 19k once

that's impressive! Assuming you were in Class A, what was it like telling ATC that you're a Skyhawk at FL190?

 

[Kritchlow]

I got a 172 to 19k once

Did you file for that, or did you just get to 17,000 and request it? What kind of route were you on? What was your climb rate? You had O2 I'm guessing?