Highest Flight Level?

First post in the main forum from a long time lurker. Hello everyone.

Impressive figures folks.

14,500 in a 172
FL250 in a BE200

Nothing compared to some of these posts, but I spend most of my time at (Eurostyle) FL025.
 
gotWXdagain said:
In a C172, FL3500 according to some of my pre-solo students when calling in with approach. :D
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Now thats impressive! You must have some super pilot students.
 
Kyle A. said:
Got to 11,500 in a B206B. Was never comfortable up that high in such a small bird. Also was at 12,600 over the top of the LAX Class B back in the 80s when the "TCA" was 12,500 because my partner didn't want to talk to anyone on the radio. I was sick for two days.
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Are you a smoker? I think maybe your sickness was just coincidence. I go that high unpressurized every day. Also there were no lingering effects when I went to the FAA altitude chamber in OKC either (aside from my pride.) And it got up to I think 250.
 
Like many others here have said, the Lear 40/45 is a good high altitude performer. We usually fly at flight levels from 400 to 450. I've gone to FL470 a dozen times or so over the years when topping weather. The highest I've taken it is just shy of FL500 on a flight from the Pacific Northwest back to Michigan, using block level climbs at long range cruise speed.

This is from today, typical flight (take-off to FL430 in 18 minutes, then another 2 minutes to complete accelerating to cruise speed):

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.90M is all we could do @ FL470 today....Does pretty well up there but FL490 is much more sluggish and FL510, well that's interesting
 
ATN_Pilot said:
I'm curious, what is your typical climb speed in that thing getting up to that altitude?
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Varies a lot with temperature of course, but the profile that I typically fly is 250 to 10K, then 275 kts. (or faster) transitioning to 0.74 to 0.76. The book says to use 275/0.72 and claims that best rate is 250/0.72, but I like the way it climbs better at the higher speeds. If we get any level offs during the climb we are quickly at 300+ knots, and then it will transition back into the climb and will continue to hold speed while going uphill very quickly. It likes to go fast, and conversely if you get it too slow (<0.72) it can take a a while to get the AOA reduced, unload the drag, and get her moving again.
 
FL470 often. We do a trip to Hawaii once a year, so I am very interested to see what profile we do. Our ten has winglets and we've had a climb sfc to fl 430 in 18 minutes.
 
Pilotforhire587 said:
FL290 in the mitts
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You should get some kind of medal just for that. I clawed my way to 250 a couple of times in the three bladers, and I think maybe 270 in a Marquise once just to see if I could do it. I'm pretty sure that one would have fallen out of the sky before it hit 290.
 
FL075...in a Skyhawk haha. I rarely cruise above 055 or 065 since that gives me plenty of space between me and most mountians en route and doesn't take forever to get up to.
 
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