Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:31 am
I'm confused. I am actually interested if anyone can steer me right here.
I guess I still don't see MP as an indicator for mixture. There is a relationship between throttle plate position, RPM, and MP. Given any two of these, there is a unique value for the third. I don't see how mixture enters into the equation. The prop generally regulates the takeoff prop RPM, and the throttle is set the same (firewalled). If the mixture is so bad (lean) that the prop reaches the fine pitch mechanical limits and you begin to lose RPM, the MP will actually go *up*, not down. Any engine with this configuration will barely run.
At cruise, if you drop RPM while keeping a constant throttle plate position, the MP increases as anyone has seen. When I lean at climb or cruise, I don't recall any variation in MP. Changes in AS do make very small changes in MP due to ram pressure (less than 1/2" increase in a 182 from Vx to cruise speed). And a new air filter robs about 1/4" or so (paper ones actually being very slightly better than Bracketts), while a really, really dirty filter steals as much as a 1/2". Some Mooneys I've flown have a filter bypass that adds under 1/2" MP at cruise.
Again, very rough guestimates on mixture for takeoff will yield ground roll distances and climb rates within a few to several percent of optimum. I consider the situations I've placed myself in where this was even remotely relevant for my safety as serious personal errors in judgment...errr...learning experiences.
What am I not seeing here that seems to be obvious to everyone else but me? Does anyone else see a MP/mixture connection? Why not set mixture to the rough "finger" settings and focus on a safe takeoff, keeping the rocks and grass off the prop?