Highest altitude achieved in a piston engine aircraft?

J

J777Fly

Well-Known Member
Does anyone know which aircraft holds the record for the highest altitude achieved by a piston engine aircraft? And when this one done?
 
Boeing Condor, I believe.

http://www.boeing.com/history/boeing/condor.html


condor.jpg
 
Piston-driven propeller aeroplaneThe highest altitude obtained by a piston-driven propeller UAV (without payload) is 67,028 ft. It was obtained in 1988-1989 by the Boeing Condor UAV.[SUP][18][/SUP]
The highest altitude obtained in a piston-driven propeller aeroplane (without a payload) was 17,083 m (56,047 ft) on October 22, 1938 by Mario Pezzi at Montecelio, Italy in a Caproni Ca.161 driven by a Piaggio XI R.C. engine.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP]
The highest altitude for horizontal flight without a payload is 14,301 m (46,919 ft) set on November 15, 2003 by Bruce Bohannan flying his Bohannon B-1 driven by a Mattituck/Lycoming IO-540 (350 hp) engine over Angleton, Texas.
 
cguerrant said:
Piston-driven propeller aeroplaneThe highest altitude obtained by a piston-driven propeller UAV (without payload) is 67,028 ft. It was obtained in 1988-1989 by the Boeing Condor UAV.[SUP][18][/SUP]
The highest altitude obtained in a piston-driven propeller aeroplane (without a payload) was 17,083 m (56,047 ft) on October 22, 1938 by Mario Pezzi at Montecelio, Italy in a Caproni Ca.161 driven by a Piaggio XI R.C. engine.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP]
The highest altitude for horizontal flight without a payload is 14,301 m (46,919 ft) set on November 15, 2003 by Bruce Bohannan flying his Bohannon B-1 driven by a Mattituck/Lycoming IO-540 (350 hp) engine over Angleton, Texas.
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wow, best I have done is 14000 in a 172 and it took forever to get there.... those are all most impressive. I wonder what the fuel burn would be for each altitude?
 
cguerrant said:
The highest altitude obtained in a piston-driven propeller aeroplane (without a payload) was 17,083 m (56,047 ft) on October 22, 1938 by Mario Pezzi at Montecelio, Italy in a Caproni Ca.161 driven by a Piaggio XI R.C. engine.[SUP][citation needed][/SUP]
The highest altitude for horizontal flight...
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You realize that this means that Mario Pezzi went to 56k in NON-horizontal flight (presumably meaning ballistic) in THIS:

Caproni_Ca.161_front_quarter_view.jpg


Say what you will about the Dagos, they've got some big hairy huevos.
 
This is kind of impressive. 43,699' in a Cessna 210 out of Cable Airport in SoCal.

walter.jpg

Walter Cable



On Tuesday 11 January 1966, Walter set the single-engine altitude record of 39,334 feet using a stock 1966 Cessna turbo 210 Centurion. He broke the previous record of 35,070 feet set three months earlier by Marvin Smith of Long Beach in a modified 210.
Walter took off from Cable Airport a little after ten and his brother, Roger, was flying a twin engine Aero Commander chase plane. Walter circled Cable Airport and then over Ontario as he continued to climb. When he received clearance from Los Angeles control he headed for Catalina Island and shuttled between Catalina and Long Beach as he continued to climb. Roger stayed at 22,000 feet and acted as a communications link between Walter and the various ground stations.
As he passed through 25,000 feet the windows frosted over and he had to fly on instruments. As he climbed higher some of these instruments became inoperable due to the altitude and eventually he was left with only the turn and bank indicator to maintain level flight.
Walter stayed above 39,000 feet for 45 minutes and maintained the peak level for about eighteen minutes. Running low on fuel he started his descent and landed at Cable at 1:30 pm, 3 hours and 9 minutes after he had left.
The following year, on Saturday May 13, he shattered his own record by flying to a height of 43,699 feet. This time flying a 1967 TurboSystem Cessna 210 Centurion, powered by a 285-hp Continental Airesearch turbocharged engine.
Roger again flew chase plane duty, but this time he flew a twin-engine Cessna Skymaster. In addition to serving as Walters communications link to various ground stations he broadcast live to the listening audience of KKAR radio. Walter was still climbing 100 feet per minute as he passed through 40,000 feet. By the time the plane reached its maximum altitude, it was in such a steep attitude that he was literally "hanging on the prop" clawing for every foot of height. The outside temperature was 60 degrees below zero and the cabin heater going full blast gave little relief. One hour and forty-five minutes after takeoff, Walter had reached 43,699 feet setting a new world Class-l.c altitude record for light aircraft, which still stands today.
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It took my carbed homebuilt 27 minutes to climb to 17.5K. The thing still could go up 150-200 fpm. I am my own hero and record breaker right Boris? :p
 
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