How high can you go in a normally aspirated

[hharney]

I HAVE A NORMAL AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AT THE HIGHER NUMBERS. I HAVE FLOWN MY 337C FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND MOST OF THE TIME IN THE WESTERN STATES. WHEN FLYING IN THE WEST YOU ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE MOUNTAIN RANGES TO CROSS THAT ARE ANYWHERE FROM 9 – 12,000 FT. SO MOST OF MY TIME WAS AT 10 – 15,000 FT. THE 337 DOES JUST FINE. I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH KEVIN, I ALWAYS FIGURED ABOUT 155 KT ON MOST ALL OF MY FLIGHTS AND A FUEL USE OF 18 – 20 GAL PER HOUR. NOW IN THE FLATLANDS OF THE MIDWEST I AM FLYING AT 6 – 9 AND BURNING 23 – 25. I HAVE MADE TRIPS TO ALASKA WITH FOUR LARGE ADULTS AND ALL THE BAGGAGE YOU COULD STUFF IN THE REAR, FULL FUEL AND AWAY YOU GO. CRUISE ALTITUDES AT 10 – 12 ARE NO PROBLEM AND 15 – 18 ARE ONLY TEMPORARY BUT IT CAN BE DONE.

BTW, I HAVE BEEN TO 21,500 FT WITH 4 PEOPLE ABOARD ON O2. NOT ANYTHING I WOULD SUGGEST AGAIN BUT THE PLANE HANDLED IT PRETTY GOOD