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Real -9A performance numbers

scard

scard

Well Known Member
Advertiser
I know we always say Van's published performance numbers are pretty close. I came across someone at Oshkosh that said they were having problems finding real world performance numbers of a -9A. I'm not sure why that would be. Anyway, here are my REAL numbers to and from Oshkosh that I jotted down on my knee board.

RV-9A O-320, one mag, one lightspeed, Hartzell CS prop
1109# empty
cruise at 10000', oat 14c, 12000 DA, 20.3"map, 2350rpm, ~62% power
full throttle, leaned max economy, using a couple notches of carb heat to get the egts more together for leaning.
145kts True, 6.5gph. Speeds previously verified +-1.5kt with three leg gps calc.

It isn't the best that is possible, but it is mine! (at least until the -8 is done)
 
one day ago 8-3, O-320 FP prop
33f5f6b.jpg
 
Cruising

Repeatable cruise #'s

Setup: ECI O-320/carb/dual EI/Hartzell

Low cruise(4K) - 130kts true - 5.0gph/20.8in MP/full carb heat/2070 rpm

High Cruise(8-10K) - 150+kts true - ~6.0gph/WOT/partial carb heat/2250 rpm

Really high cruise(12K-13K) - 144kts true ~4.8 gph/WOT/partial carb heat/2250 rpm. Range over 1000nm.....

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8500ft on the 3rd anniversary of first flight

TAS%2011-5-09.JPG
 
Here are the data from my POH based on several runs at 8500 elevation. These are data from the engine leaned about 50 degrees past peak. Max speed at 8500 feet is 200 mph WOT turning 2750 rpm.

TAS RPM MAP Fuel Flow % Power
195 2700 23.0 11.3 82
185 2600 21.8 10.0 75
176 2500 20.8 8.7 68
167 2400 19.9 7.6 62
159 2300 19.0 6.7 55

Typical cruise for me is at 12500 or higher and I run about 170 TAS at 2400 RPM and burn 6.4 gph.

Note that I'm running a Superior IO-360, dual mags. My prop is pitched at 87 inches.

greg
 
Soon there will be two racing data points

Two RV-9As are entered in the Great Canadian Air Rally on August 21. These are the first ever RV-9s in an SARL race. It will be very interesting to see how they do. I would have expected something in the 160 kt range but Greg's max number says they may well be in the 170s (200 mph).

Bob Axsom
 
Thought you might enjoy some numbers from my Eggenfellner powered 9A. It was built by Bruce Cruickshank (now half owner with me) and has been flying for about 4 years. We have 314 Hours on it and it's been relatively trouble free. Engine is 2.5 liters Single Overhead Cam and normally aspirated. It has a 2.02 to 1 gearbox turning an electically adjustable Warp Drive prop.

Top speed: 173 KTS @ 11.3 GPH
Cruise speed: 150 KTS @ 7.0 GPH
Econ cruise: 140 KTS @ 6.2 GPH

These numbers are pretty good for an Auto conversion. We burn 91 octane auto fuel at home station.

-Andy Simpkinson
 
173 kts, very nice Andy.

simpkinsona said:
Thought you might enjoy some numbers from my Eggenfellner powered 9A. It was built by Bruce Cruickshank (now half owner with me) and has been flying for about 4 years. We have 314 Hours on it and it's been relatively trouble free. Engine is 2.5 liters Single Overhead Cam and normally aspirated. It has a 2.02 to 1 gearbox turning an electically adjustable Warp Drive prop.

Top speed: 173 KTS @ 11.3 GPH
Cruise speed: 150 KTS @ 7.0 GPH
Econ cruise: 140 KTS @ 6.2 GPH

These numbers are pretty good for an Auto conversion. We burn 91 octane auto fuel at home station.

-Andy Simpkinson
Click to expand...

What is the rated hp of your subie?

Kent
 
-9A performance

I'm still in Phase 1 sorting some of these things out. I don't have the wheel fairings on yet.

The best TAS I've seen is about 148 kts @ 10,500. I think my fuel burn was about 7 gph. The RPM was about 2450. GPS ground speeds at different headings show about the same.

I can't test at higher power settings because my field elevation is 6550' but I think the best speed I'll see around these parts is about 150 kts or maybe alittle more when I get all the fiberglass on.

Looks like a reasonable cruise speed for me might be around 140 - 145 kts or so.

150 HP, fixed wood cruise prop, 1044 empty.

Not the fastest RV but I'm very happy so far.

Dave
-9A flying
 
Guys: I did a performance run run yesterday at 8000' PA.

RPM KTAS FF %Pwr NM/Gal
2000 115 3.8 32 30.2
2100 125 4.7 38 26.5
2200 130 5.5 43 23.6
2300 137 6.7 53 20.4
2400 145 7.3 57 19.7
2500 152 8.3 64 17.9
2600 159 10.0 72 15.9
2700 162 11.5 82 14.0

O-360-A4M, Sensenich 72x83 metal prop, 670 hours on engine and airframe, Slick mags, leaned to 50' ROP and 91 mogas. Dan
 
Eggenfellner claims 160 HP for our motor. This is also what Subaru claims for that engine. We don't spin it fast enough to get that and with the intake manifold it probably wouldn't get that anyway. We estimate we are getting 140 to 150 HP at 5000 RPM.

-Andy
 
engine de-rating

PHP: 
Eggenfellner claims 160 HP for our motor. This is also what Subaru claims for that engine. We don't spin it fast enough to get that and with the intake manifold it probably wouldn't get that anyway. We estimate we are getting 140 to 150 HP at 5000 RPM.

My 150 HP Lycoming has a dual rating: 150@2700 and 140@2450.

Given that my prop won't spin much faster than 2450, I've really got a
140 HP -RV9A.

I don't think I'll change a thing...

Dave
-9A
 
4 hr trips

i usually see 150 knots at 9 to 11 thousand feet at 6.5gph with a 0320 with fixed pitch mt prop turning 2350 to 2400 rpm
 
To me this is one of the things that impresses me most about the RV-9. You can get excellent performance from a lower power engine.

-Andy
 
WAM 120 performance

In Sept, I flew from Boulder City, NV (Las Vegas) to Eugene OR, Average speed: 160 mph TAS, avg fuel burn 5.0 gph. 8500'.

This is been typical for my plane, RV9 (TW), with Wilksch WAM 120 diesel. 205 hours so far, trouble free.

Kurt
 
With the 135 HP O-290-D2 I would cruise it all day at 140 knots (165 mph) TAS and ~64% power. That was on the 2600 RPM redline and a climb prop.

Wide open, I could get it up to 151 knots (178 MPH) TAS but I was turning 2870 RPM to do it. (That engine has a 2800 RPM limit for five minutes, 2600 RPM continuous.)

As soon as I start flying with the O-360 and cruise prop, I'll post those numbers.
 
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