Lyc 320 power chart - Backcountry Pilot (2024)

Anybody got a link to a power chart for a 150-horse Lycoming 320 running a fixed-pitch prop? Since I guess it has to be prop-specific to be accurate, it's an O-320-E2A with a 56" pitch Sensenich 74DM prop. Thanks,

Eric

Dont know if this will help, but here's something.

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That chart's for a 160-horse 320, and also for constant speed (note the MP/rpm settings). Not quite what I was looking for but thanks.
I remember having a power chart for the C-145 in my 170 that showed cruising altitudes and rpm/hp, based og=f course on the "stock" propeller. That's kind of more like what I'm aftyer. With a fixed prop, I can't control the MP and in fact don't even have a MP gauge.
Propbably what I want would be found in a Cherokee operating manual or somewhere like that.

Eric

Long time lurker here, stumbled across this thread while trying to figure out info on my engine. I know its an old thread, but I am sure someone someday will be seek the same info.

Those fuel burns match fairly closely to what I was getting when I had to run a fair amount ROP for cylinder cooling. Being able to lean a little more now I see closer to 9.2 at performance cruise with a 160hp O-320.

Thanks for putting these up!

contactflying wrote:I flew pipelines with many different C-172s, some 150 horse and some 160 horse 0-320s . I ran all at 24 or 25 hundred Rpm leaned to maximum Rpm before takeoff regardless of DA. I seldom went higher than 200 ' all day long. I burned 8 to 9 gph and all the engines went about three thousand hours.

Just what is "flying pipelines"? I here that mentioned, I see airplanes advertised that way, etc. just what exactly are you looking for?

Break

0-320's on RV aircraft run sub 8 gph leaned at altitude. I could run 150 ktas at 7 gph on a carb and I know guys that can do that on 6 gph running fuel injected, p mags, LOP. 160 hp fixed pitch.

Hoeschen,

Spot reports are made on all equipment, construction, exposed pipe, oil or product leak, ice or frost formation on natural gas valves, water on the top of storage tanks, dead animals, survey crews, survey stakes, vegetation restricting view, or unusual activity on or near the pipeline right of way (fifty feet swath.) Any equipment at any distance working toward the right of way is also called. Because bad weather may remain many days in the midwest, most lines there are flown weekly. In the west they are usually flown bi-weekly. Any line not flown in the prior 21 days must be shut down until flown. All spot reports must be physically investigated withing 48 hours, I think, by oil or pipeline company employees.

Spot reports are made by estimating distance from the nearest mile pole, positioned every mile in the midwest and every two to five miles out west. Many oil companies required GPS as well, but the interface technology was not there in inexpensive GPS units when I retired in 2006. The best unit I ever used was an old marine Magellan GPS that had a man overboard button. Still at 130 mph the coordinate could be way off. Does it happen when you push down or when you let the button up? The later Garmin 196s didn't have any way to get an accurate spot. I simply guessed. The company guys on the ground used the mile pole reports. They, like me, simply ignored any GPS coordinates. They said any would put them on the wrong side of the river or miles away.

As a normal operating practice, I read every mile pole. That way I could confirm the accuracy of the spot. I also found the occasional double entry or missing mile post, which I also reported. I also found unusual routing in pipelines. To be accurate you need to see every foot of the right of way. Energy management turns are the only way to do this on crooked lines.

Contact