Single-engine Endurance and Performance

[Ernie Martin]

Come on, people. No more views? I'm seeking your opinion whether or not you ever did this. It's real simple and probably at the core of why you bought a Skymaster. The choices are:

1. Yes, a 2/3 loaded Skymaster on one engine will maintain 5,000 ft even on a hot day. That's what twins are supposed to do.

or

2. No, you will bleed altitude to maintain a safe speed. It's just like a single, where you've got to start looking for a place to put it down as soon as you lose an engine, except here you have more time to look.

Please vote.

Ernie

[tropical]

The best rule of thumb in any multi engine aircraft is once you have lost an engine land as soon as practical.

[Ernie Martin]

Thanks, I recognize that. But that's hard to do when you're over water and the nearest airport is one hour away. And the issue is more than academic, because mitigating steps can be taken: if I knew that I can't maintain altitude, then I will fly at higher altitudes* or with lighter loads. Please choose from my earlier memo, do you think it's 1 or 2?

Ernie

_______________
* I now fly at around 5,000 ft, based on prevailing winds, convenience and another factor mentioned on the next sentence, but I'd go to 10,000 ft if I knew that I can't maintain altitude (the extra 5,000 ft would gain me 50 extra minutes aloft if the loss is 100 ft/min). But if there is a fire on board (my third consideration) it would take twice as long to ditch. That is why, in part, this is important: no sense flying higher (a fire/smoke drawback) if the aircraft can maintain 5,000 ft with one engine.

[tropical]

Load your aircraft up and duplicate the circumstances you mention and go out and try it.

No 2 aircraft are the same, nor are two different pilot's abilities.

You're looking for a blanket answer.

[Ernie Martin]

It's not easy to find enough people for 2/3 load who are willing to endure this simulation. And I don't seek a blanket answer, just people's opinions until I test it.

Ernie

[tropical]

Originally Posted by Ernie Martin

It's not easy to find enough people for 2/3 load who are willing to endure this simulation. And I don't seek a blanket answer, just people's opinions until I test it.

Ernie

Bags of sand, bags of concrete mix, free weights, etc. It doesn't have to be people.

You're expecting someone to provide you with an answer when you could go out and prove it to yourself except you don't want to risk it with your airplane. No one here is going out to be your test pilot.

As I said earlier, there are many factors involved in the scenario you have provided, airplane, engines, rigging of the airplane, center of gravity, skill of the pilot, weather conditions, etc.

[Ernie Martin]

Tropical, do I sense some problem here? I ask because you seem to find discord with almost everything I say. For the record:

1. I've carried cinder blocks, concrete and lots more on my airplane, and it leaves the interior a mess.

2. I'm not asking anyone to provide with an answer or be my test pilot. Take a moment to read my postings above. I'm seeking only opinions, even from people who haven't tried it.

3. Your flat statement that I don't want to risk it is false. I will do it as soon as I can, something I've said in prior postings. Until then, I was simply hoping to get views that might prompt me to fly lighter or higher.

But, given that the subject seems to trouble you, and to avoid further discord, I will not be posting further replies on this thread. I will let my prior postings speak for themselves and hope that anyone with views on whether our twin can maintain altitude after an engine failure will post them here.

Ernie