Figuring out what affects my speed

This morning I'm flying my sim Baron 58 towards KVYS, and I notice
that my airspeed is about 217 kts, much higher than usual. I'm level
at 5000 feet MSL, altimeter is 3038, clear weather, throttles full,
mixture set for peak EGT roughly, props set to 2520 RPM, about 150 RPM
below redline. The temperature outside is -1° C.

The mystery for me is that 217 kts (slightly in the yellow arc) is
unusually fast. I'm not sure what I'm doing different. Usually I'm
just below the yellow arc in cruise at this range of altitudes.

So throttle, mixture, prop, and altitude can surely affect IAS in
level flight, but what else? How much does the gradual burning of
fuel make a difference? Would it boost my speed by 20 kts or more as
it burns off? I started out with almost a full load of fuel, and now
about half of it is gone.

I'm just trying to figure out what factors I may be overlooking.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
This morning I'm flying my sim Baron 58 towards KVYS, and I notice
that my airspeed is about 217 kts,

Indicated, calibrated, or true?

Steve Foley writes:

Indicated, calibrated, or true?

TAS. Indicated is about 195. Speed over the ground is about 220,
although I don't consider that a factor here.

In most cases I see somewhat lower speeds in cruise. I'm trying to
figure out what I did different this time (or what might be different
about conditions) that would produce a noticeably higher speed.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote:
In most cases I see somewhat lower speeds in cruise. I'm trying to
figure out what I did different this time (or what might be different
about conditions) that would produce a noticeably higher speed.


You don't say what the air temp is. But anyway, this is all
academic in terms of a simulator, but there any number of
things that can affect the airplanes actual (TRUE) airspeed:

Weight
CG (loading)
air density (temp/pressure)
power (RPM)
propeller efficiency
how slick is the fuselage/wings? (parasitic drag?)

Through various combinations of these an airplanes max
true airspeed can vary considerably from ;book/ values.

Just for the record, a real Baron will not see 195 true, and most operators
do not cruise at 2520 rpm and egt peak. The fuel burn is high under these
conditions, and it is also loud inside.

These operating conditions are probably not within the normal operating
parameters of either the POH or the suggestions by John Deakin, whomever you
chose to believe.

Most pilots will cruise at more reduced power settings to keep the fuel burn
down if nothing else.

Ktbr,

. But anyway, this is all
academic in terms of a simulator,


Hey, maybe he finally washed the bugs off.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Viperdoc,

These operating conditions are probably not within the normal operating
parameters of either the POH or the suggestions by John Deakin, whomever you
chose to believe.


He's been told numerous times to read the POH and Deakin. He doesn't. Yet he
claims he wants to learn all he can. He's a liar.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas Borchert wrote in message ...
Ktbr,

. But anyway, this is all
academic in terms of a simulator,


Hey, maybe he finally washed the bugs off.

Windex on my monitor always gets me a few extra knots.

- Rick

ktbr writes:

You don't say what the air temp is.

It was -1° C at 5000 feet.

But anyway, this is all
academic in terms of a simulator, but there any number of
things that can affect the airplanes actual (TRUE) airspeed:

Weight
CG (loading)
air density (temp/pressure)
power (RPM)
propeller efficiency
how slick is the fuselage/wings? (parasitic drag?)

Through various combinations of these an airplanes max
true airspeed can vary considerably from ;book/ values.

I've been thinking and two possibilities come to mind: cowl flaps
closed, and prop speed reduced. I didn't think that cowl flaps made
much difference on a Baron, certainly not 20-30 kts, but maybe. I
also thought that reducing the prop speed might have something to do
with it. The aircraft slows down initially when I reduce the prop
speed, but up to now I haven't watched it over time to see if it ends
up moving faster, so I might try that.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Viperdoc writes:

Just for the record, a real Baron will not see 195 true ...

What is your source of information? The manual says 223 indicated, so
it must be able to achive at least that in true airspeed.

... and most operators
do not cruise at 2520 rpm and egt peak. The fuel burn is high under these
conditions, and it is also loud inside.

Fortunately, I don't have to pay for fuel, so economy is not an issue.
I've only recently started to adjust mixture and prop settings, and
I'm still not clear how they are supposed to interact. I'm thinking
that some adjustment I made increased the speed of the aircraft.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.