What airplane for this mission...?

Katamarino

Katamarino

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Katamarino
The mission; 5,250nm non-stop. Average speed has to be at least 140 knots, but the faster the better. Single occupant, no luggage (apart from some pee-bags and snacks). 200hp maximum.

Suggestions?
 
Something like a Cozy MkIV with a fuel bladder in place of the other 2-3 seats? It would probably cruise at 200kts with 200hp
 
Neither of the last two meet the HP restriction...
 
I'm guessing if anything can do it it would be a fairly extreme home-built crammed with extra fuel tanks!
 
3 days with no sleep flying a plane? Sounds fun, and safe.
 
Voyager?....

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Max Conrad did >7,000 miles in a Comanche. That might be a place to start looking.

Of course, that was a Comanche 250, so getting airborne in a Comanche 180 with that much gas would be a bit tougher.
 
Katamarino said:
The mission; 5,250nm non-stop. Average speed has to be at least 140 knots, but the faster the better. Single occupant, no luggage (apart from some pee-bags and snacks). 200hp maximum.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

Call Burt Rutan and ask him to whip something up for you.....
 
Salty said:
3 days with no sleep flying a plane? Sounds fun, and safe.
Click to expand...

Maybe nap with the help of autopilot? Hey, I’m not saying its safe! I think he needs to add to the requirements a weewee tube and a poop chute or its gonna get stinky.
 
Katamarino said:
I like how the Wikipedia page for Melmoth 2 quotes the VNE as 190kts, and the cruise speed as 200kts.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the page could be a lot more precise, but perhaps the quoted cruise speed is TAS.
 
Curious minds want to know: what prompts your question, Katamarino? Your fans think you've spent a lot of time and effort setting up your Cessna 182 for this. Are you considering a change of aircraft?
(I do agree the Cozy MkIV with lots of fuel bladders may be the best option.)
Whatever you do, we will cheer you on!
 
G-Man said:
Curious minds want to know: what prompts your question, Katamarino? Your fans think you've spent a lot of time and effort setting up your Cessna 182 for this. Are you considering a change of aircraft?
(I do agree the Cozy MkIV with lots of fuel bladders may be the best option.)
Whatever you do, we will cheer you on!
Click to expand...

No plans to change from the C182!

The distance from London to Cape Town is 5,200nm and the record stands at about 87 hours for the round trip in this class... They made 2 stops in each direction.
 
RV-8. Remove the back seat and put in an extra fuel tank.
 
You're talking about a pretty extreme efficient experimental to do that.

You might want to talk to Bill Harrelson about his Lancair escapades. Or maybe not, because he might try to beat you. I flew in his Lancair 320 about 11 years ago (I won't forget that flight!) and he then built the Lancair IV that he used for his flight of similar distance. A Lancair 320/360 has the efficiency and if you could stuff enough fuel in enough places, that would probably be the best option. I seem to recall Bill saying 140 KTAS on 4 GPH was the most efficient power setting on his 320.
 
Katamarino said:
The mission; 5,250nm non-stop. Average speed has to be at least 140 knots, but the faster the better. Single occupant, no luggage (apart from some pee-bags and snacks). 200hp maximum.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

RV-8, but the "non-stop" part is a challenge!
 
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