It’s better not having to take off from a high altitude when you’re flying light aircraft. The thin air at higher altitudes robs the engine of horsepower and limits the airplane’s performance. This lengthens the takeoff roll considerably and decreases the rate of climb. Cruising speed is also decreased a bit.
Even so, this light biplane with 235 horsepower at sea level, could really set me back in the seat when full power was applied on takeoff at an elevation of 6750 feet, even though it only produced about 170 hp at that altitude. Climbing to 3000 feet above ground level to safely do loops, rolls, and so on, reduced the engine’s maximum power even more.
Still, it was a lot of fun, even though I did sometimes wonder what it would have been like to be able to fly those maneuvers at a lower altitude where the engine could produce full power.
#airplane #biplane #altitude #performance #aerobatics
Eskildoodle Photos and Feelings 