REFLECTOR: Gliding Distance

[Brooke Wolf]

I am planning some overwater trips in the near future and the subject of gliding distance naturally comes to mind.  I have done some limited test flying with my airplane (XLRG w/Aerocomposite variable pitch prop).  The results of my gliding performance are not too good.  All tests were done around 6000ft with throttle at idle and wheels up.  Here are the results:

80 KIAS - 900fpm…….. yields a glide performance of 1.38 miles/1000 ft altitude
85 KIAS - 1000fpm……..yeilds a glide performance of 1.41 miles/1000 ft altitude
100 KIAS - 1250fpm …..yields a glide performance of  1.34 miles/1000 ft altitude

As you can see, 85 KIAS appears to be the best glide speed.

I know there may be a big difference in what I tested and what happens in the real world with a windmilling or stopped prop.  Have any of you brave test pilots done any testing with a windmilling or stopped prop?  What were the results?  What kind of glide performance did others get with throttle at idle?  Is there anyway to correlate throttle idle glide performance with windmilling or prop stopped performance?  What is the best way to stretch a wheels up glide on a Velocity?

I would like to get a discussion going on this and find what others have experienced.  Thanks.

Brooke, N108BG, XLRG-5, 145 hours