jkcook28/General Aviation/Cessna 310
- Thread starter jkcook28
- Start date
Phew! Way to wring it out JC.
srgalahad
Charter Member 2022
PFFFFFT!!! lots left!.. just use the NASCAR 'wiggle' to get the last few drops out of the tank and into the pickups. 3 Gal. should be enough for one lap!
Because I have no artistic ability!:d
Finally out of the stormy Baghdad area into the clear.
About 35mi to the good at the moment...
Great flight-maximizing performance right to the edge.
But note maximum altitude...ouch!
Oh my, I didn't see that. It doesn't show in the text file, but I can guess where it happened in there. AP was set at 17,800 for entire leg. I normally sit and monitor the flight updating the altimeter every few minutes to avoid this. Turbulent and stormy in a few portions of this leg, and I stepped away for 20min to walk my dog. Had to be then.
I'm going to beg for mercy in court here. Don't know now if the weather (or my time) will allow a refly and re-route adds 100mi.
1 hour penalty eliminates me.
22ft blip in a pressure change isn't like trying to cruise above 18K to defeat the rules.
I rest my case.
Judges?
MM
Charter Member
John, the Committee has extensively discussed this case and decided to apply the rule as written.
The hard ceiling of 18,000 feet governs Modern General Aviation aircraft. The pilot who seeks to fly fast and efficiently at a high cruising altitude must judge the tradeoff between flying near 18,000 feet and flying somewhat lower to guard against unexpected air pressure changes and storm turbulence. The MSFS weather engine can produce very sudden weather events so this is a matter of real concern.
There is a risk-reward factor here: the structure of the contest allows the pilot to choose a strategy that makes the best time possible while not busting the ceiling.
We understand that you were not aiming to fly above the ceiling. This is not a matter of intentionally violating the rules. Let us be clear about that.
Instead, you were making a perfectly legitimate strategic calculation about the safety margin. You were cruising at 17,800 feet--a margin of 200 feet. You guess that the event occurred when you were away momentarily and were unable to monitor the weather continuously. All this seems within the range of normal MSFS weather fluctuations where unexpected altitude shifts of 200 feet or more are part of the way things work.
It appears that you took a "racing" risk here to catch the tailwinds and fly the Cessna fast and far. With no margin to spare, you executed a spectacularly successful leg. But in doing so, you inadvertently busted the altitude ceiling--making this an invalid leg.
You may re-fly the leg now. With favorable winds, it is quite possible that you might achieve a better time than the first ill-fated attempt.
--The Organizing Committee
The rule does not penalize violations--it merely cancels invalid legs. Understanding that MSFS weather can generate severe weather transitions, the rule treats inadvertent ceiling transgressions as though they were computer failures—as something beyond the pilot's control.
The hard ceiling of 18,000 feet governs Modern General Aviation aircraft. The pilot who seeks to fly fast and efficiently at a high cruising altitude must judge the tradeoff between flying near 18,000 feet and flying somewhat lower to guard against unexpected air pressure changes and storm turbulence. The MSFS weather engine can produce very sudden weather events so this is a matter of real concern.
There is a risk-reward factor here: the structure of the contest allows the pilot to choose a strategy that makes the best time possible while not busting the ceiling.
We understand that you were not aiming to fly above the ceiling. This is not a matter of intentionally violating the rules. Let us be clear about that.
Instead, you were making a perfectly legitimate strategic calculation about the safety margin. You were cruising at 17,800 feet--a margin of 200 feet. You guess that the event occurred when you were away momentarily and were unable to monitor the weather continuously. All this seems within the range of normal MSFS weather fluctuations where unexpected altitude shifts of 200 feet or more are part of the way things work.
It appears that you took a "racing" risk here to catch the tailwinds and fly the Cessna fast and far. With no margin to spare, you executed a spectacularly successful leg. But in doing so, you inadvertently busted the altitude ceiling--making this an invalid leg.
You may re-fly the leg now. With favorable winds, it is quite possible that you might achieve a better time than the first ill-fated attempt.
--The Organizing Committee
Roger that Mike. I understand the rules, it's just that these wx fluctuations can only be caught if you are sitting there monitoring the flight start to finish; and one needs a break from time to time on a 4hr leg. (even longer for Golden Age!) I'd rather not pause everytime something comes up and send a shotgun blast of numbers your way to calculate legs.
Myself, I consider reflying a 4hr leg a penalty; for my backside if nothing else! :d
Myself, I consider reflying a 4hr leg a penalty; for my backside if nothing else! :d
epwatson
Charter Member
In FS9, if you have a registered version of FSUIPC, it can make the transitions between pressure zones more gradual, there is a setting that can make the pressure change slower allowing the autopilot to adjust for variations in the pressure.
When your weather program (Active Sky for example) suddenly changes the pressure, FSUIPC catches this change and applies the change slower (over several seconds) instead of instantly.
This is not fool proof however, and i usually fly at cruising altitude with an altimeter setting of 29.92" so i dont' have to constantly adjust it. This means that I can't cruise very close to the ceiling, I will fly about 500' - 1000' below it.
Sorry for your luck but who knows, your refly may be better time.
When your weather program (Active Sky for example) suddenly changes the pressure, FSUIPC catches this change and applies the change slower (over several seconds) instead of instantly.
This is not fool proof however, and i usually fly at cruising altitude with an altimeter setting of 29.92" so i dont' have to constantly adjust it. This means that I can't cruise very close to the ceiling, I will fly about 500' - 1000' below it.
Sorry for your luck but who knows, your refly may be better time.