Abstract
Purdue University operates a fleet of Cirrus SR20s as training aircraft. Standard operating procedures for the cruise portion of cross country training flights call for 65% power with a best power mixture, also called rich of peak, as opposed to a best economy setting, also called lean of peak. Previous work demonstrated that fuel consumption rates, cylinder head temperatures, and true airspeeds are lower when best economy is employed compared to best power for the same power output. This study confirmed that best economy is associated with a lower fuel consumption rate and lower cylinder head temperatures but was unable to show that true airspeeds were different.
Keywords
best economy, lean of peak, best power, rich of peak, piston aircraft performance, piston aircraft engine performance
Date of this Version
7-22-2011
Department
Aviation Technology
Department Head
Dr. Brent Bowen
Month of Graduation
August
Year of Graduation
2011
Degree
Master of Technology
Degree Type
Directed Project
Head of Graduate Program
Dr. Richard Fanjoy
Advisor 1 or Chair of Committee
Dr. Mary E. Johnson
Committee Member 1
Denver W. Lopp
Committee Member 2
Michael W. Suckow