+- AirSource Virtual Pilot Union Forums (https://forums.air-source.us)
+-- Forum: General Discussion Conferences (https://forums.air-source.us/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: General Discussions (https://forums.air-source.us/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: dummy (me) question about real world airplane (/showthread.php?tid=1954)
dummy (me) question about real world airplane - reflanagan - 03-20-2012
Okay, I was looking as some data and it doesnt make sense to me. Take the unpressureised cessnas, how can they have a service ceiling over 10,000 ft? What am I missing. Its okay you can laugh at me.
Re: dummy (me) question about real world airplane - AS 2 Tom Little - 03-20-2012
Good question Robert! Typically I think density-altitude comes in to play, and in mountainous regions you would be alble to go as high as 14,000! Others may be able to help answer too...
Re: dummy (me) question about real world airplane - kingsak - 03-22-2012
No such thing as a dumb question - except the one's your afraid to ask.
I have no clue as to the answer either.
Re: dummy (me) question about real world airplane - reflanagan - 03-22-2012
I was just wondering is all, the Skylane tops out at 18,000. Do they carry oxygen? I know we have some pilots here. How many have Oxygen bottles in there private aircrafts.
Re: dummy (me) question about real world airplane - AS37 Norm Edwards - 03-23-2012
Take a look at this link, it provides some useful info on the topic.
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forum ... in/270632/
Re: dummy (me) question about real world airplane - reflanagan - 03-23-2012
Very interesting reading to be sure, thank you.
Re: dummy (me) question about real world airplane - scmahan - 08-16-2012
Robert,
The answer really comes down to what the airplane is capable of doing. A typical gasoline powered normally aspirated single engine plane would have a service ceiling around 10000 ft and it would struggle to get there. Basically what happens is that the airplane runs out of combustion air or more exactly enough oxygen to cause combustion.
Put a turbo on that same airplane and it would have a service ceiling of 18000 to 20000 ft. The turbo pushes more air into the engine thus more oxygen. For instance a Turbo Cessna Skymaster has a ceiling of 20000 ft, but as before it is a struggle to get there.
If you want to go higher than that then you need a jet turbine engine, turbo prop or jet.
Of course the limiting factor is the pilot. Above 10000 feet and you start to run out of air and become hypoxic, this of course varies depending on the condition of your respiratory and circulatory systems. Old guys just can't fly as high as young guys. There are two answers to the pilot running out of air problem, supplemental oxygen or pressurized cablin.
Both of these add a great deal of cost, complexity, and associated problems, like pressure leaks, frozen oxygen regulators, etc, etc.
Re: dummy (me) question about real world airplane - AS 2 Tom Little - 08-17-2012
Very insightful Steve, thanks!