How many of you know the next 100 RPM doesn't
really gain you that much in transit time, but just can't stand to see
the speed the 3-4 kts lower than you know it should be?

Hi Jeff -- now I remember you! You're the guy NOT in the picture!
:-)

Your internal conflict between speed and enjoyment. Don't feel bad
-- I think we all do that to one degree or another.

It has really only been recently that I've been able to pull the prop
and throttle back to a nice, quiet 20 squared, burning 9 gallons per
hour, and been able to enjoy puttering along at 110 knots again. (That
used to be our normal cruise speed, in our Warrior.) We started
throttling back because we were "down" a pair of headphones, and I
wanted to minimize the noise level for the poor person without ANR --
and discovered that I *liked* flying 30 knots slower.

It's quieter (by far), less buzzy through the floor, and you get to
enjoy the view for a few minutes longer. (And, of course, you burn
less gas, although that is somewhat offset by the longer flight.)

Before this year, though, I had to be running at 23 or 24 squared, and
I wanted 140 knots, just because that's what the plane *should* be
doing. I knew it made little sense, at some level, but that's just the
way it was, and I didn't think about it much.

Gad -- Maybe this is what happens to those old coots that you always
get stuck behind driving 10 mph under the speed limit? ;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"