Columbia 350

J

jetx.ceo

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, we are getting a Columbia 350 next week and I am trying to find power settings that you guys may use on climb, fast cruise, econ cruise, and landing. The owner tells me one number and someone else says another. Can we really get 191 out of it? If so what setting?

Thanks
 
Yes, you can probably get 191 KTAS out of it up high. I've gotten 206 KTAS out of a Corvalis 400 and that was at about FL200 or FL220 I think.

Also, not trying to be a jerk, but read the performance charts to get power settings. Planes of this caliber have a wide spectrum of performance numbers, based on a wide variety of power settings, mixtures, and altitudes.

You probably heard two different numbers from two different people because they were referring to two different scenarios.
 
It's been awhile since I've been in one but I do have a few hundred hours in the 350. Absolutely love the airplane but never once did I see it get to 191.

If I remember correctly a typical ROP power setting would normally put me in the 175-180 range at about 17-18 GPH. If you prefer to run LOP you're probably going to see somewhere in the 155-160 range at about 12 or 13 GPH.

I found that on a typical visual approach (after I got sufficiently comfortable w/ the airplane) I would be adjusting the power setting by feel without paying to much attention to what the exact MP or RPM setting was. Someone who has more recent experience can chime in but I know there was a good power setting for the ILS that would give you something like 110 Kts. when coming down the pipe.

A big suggestion if you are new to the airplane - don't be afraid to use the Speed Brakes when you feel like you're getting fast, it is a VERY slippery airframe. There is no V-speed so pop them whenever you need them! I actually preferred using them all the way into the landing, it forces you to use a bit more power into the flare which will produce some additional airflow over the horizontal stab - one of the gripes about the 350 is running out of elevator in the flare.

Hope that helps a bit. Enjoy the airplane, I have had many of my best flying memories sitting in the 350 and I'd do just about anything to get back into one!
 
Mtts422 said:
It's been awhile since I've been in one but I do have a few hundred hours in the 350. Absolutely love the airplane but never once did I see it get to 191.

If I remember correctly a typical ROP power setting would normally put me in the 175-180 range at about 17-18 GPH. If you prefer to run LOP you're probably going to see somewhere in the 155-160 range at about 12 or 13 GPH.
Click to expand...

Just curious, what altitudes and gross weights were you seeing that performance at?
 
The majority of the time was with two average sized adults and fuel to the tabs.

I should have prefaced my earlier comments with the fact that most of the flying was done in the 8,000 - 12,000 ft. envelope. I never really experimented with it up in the high teens - I would assume the 191 is probably achievable up there but the airplane tended to be a dog when trying to climb above 12 or 13,000 on a warm day. Most of my flying was done going north/south along the coast in SoCal so taking it up high wasn't necessary.
 
Don't worry, you didn't seem like a jerk. I read the performance and the POH calls for 2700 rpm and I think 18mp for 191 at 8000 feet. I don't think the old owner knows that we can fly at 2700. That is the only reason why I asked, he may fly the plane at 2500 rpm to save wear and tear but I am not sure. Thanks for all the help!
 
jetx.ceo said:
Don't worry, you didn't seem like a jerk. I read the performance and the POH calls for 2700 rpm and I think 18mp for 191 at 8000 feet. I don't think the old owner knows that we can fly at 2700. That is the only reason why I asked, he may fly the plane at 2500 rpm to save wear and tear but I am not sure. Thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...


Not to mention noise. I fly our Chieftain at 2200RPM because it's signifigantly quiter than 2300. We loose maybe 2kts. But with the reduced fuel flow and temps, I just get the 2kts back with a little higher MP and it still runs cooler and on less fuel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top