But, as we quickly learned, rarely with single-engine machines, but not at all difficult when looking at twins. So to square the power setting for 200 knots, so to speak, we asked whether it’s possible to buy 200 knots for $200,000. What can we afford? How much does speed cost? That costs money, so we buy the speed we can afford. And want it we do.īut speed means overcoming drag and that means power, lots more power. Speed is valuable for its existence its existence makes us want it. The 180-knot machine will take nearly another hour.īut who is going on a 1000 NM trip with any regularity? Worrying about the stuff we don’t often do is what we get when we try to be rational about speed. Trying to go 1,000 NM into a 30-knot headwind? The 200-knot bird will need about 5:50. As TAS goes up, the percentage of it affected by a headwind drops.
It’s why aircraft manufacturers publish cruise performance at the worst possible power setting for engine longevity-50 degrees rich of peak EGT-because it gives the highest numbers.Īnd, if we are being rational, extra cruise speed starts to really make a difference when dealing with a headwind. We load the heavy stuff in the back end of the baggage compartment to move the CG farther aft for a little more speed. To start with, we’re not talking being rational, we’re talking speed and pilots are not known for being rational about speed.
It can’t be worth the extra money to buy 200 knots. Yes, we know that rational voices tell us that head-to-head on a 200 NM trip on a calm day, the 200-knot speedster will be just shutting down on the ramp as a 180-knot machine is entering the pattern. My airplane is so fast that there are times I’ve got to slow down so I don’t get busted.” It means potentially having to pay attention to the 250-knot IAS speed limit below 10,000 feet when in a descent and definitely be ready for the 200-knot IAS speed limit under Class B airspace and in certain parts of Class C and D airspace. Over the years the number that keeps coming up when we talk to pilots about the speed they’d really like to have is 200 knots TAS.
And no matter what we’re flying, we’ve been heard to say, “It’s a great airplane. We post photos on social media of the GPS when riding a screaming tailwind and we agonize over the numbers when imprisoned in a headwind. One of the main reasons we love airplanes is that they go fast-and the faster the better. With a capability to cruise at over 220 knots in pressurized comfort and prices for many under $200,000, the P-jBaron is an attractive traveling machine.