Oldmanb777
New member
I'm opening this up for discussion, as its been bugging me. Hopefully a good civil discussion where we can all think about what we are doing and learn something.
I was recently at a fly in where density altitude is a factor. as well as mountainous terrain. I saw many pilots taking off using flaps. So I opened up discussion with a couple pilots standing around. Why would you use flaps on take off in this conditions? I would guess DA at about 9000 ft at the time. So what would be your performance limits? Simply engine power. Adding flaps creates lift, but lift creates drag and you need power to overcome that drag, and you don't have excess power. The runway is long here, 5000 ft I think. But suffice to say it's much longer than you need. No 50 ft " obstacle. No runway clutter, its clear and dry, good quality pavement. Lets say your average normally asperated SEL airplane.
So would you choose to use flaps for take off, or, use the available runway to make a no flaps take off? Hopefully I described the scenario accurately. Now open for discussion, please be civil.
I was recently at a fly in where density altitude is a factor. as well as mountainous terrain. I saw many pilots taking off using flaps. So I opened up discussion with a couple pilots standing around. Why would you use flaps on take off in this conditions? I would guess DA at about 9000 ft at the time. So what would be your performance limits? Simply engine power. Adding flaps creates lift, but lift creates drag and you need power to overcome that drag, and you don't have excess power. The runway is long here, 5000 ft I think. But suffice to say it's much longer than you need. No 50 ft " obstacle. No runway clutter, its clear and dry, good quality pavement. Lets say your average normally asperated SEL airplane.
So would you choose to use flaps for take off, or, use the available runway to make a no flaps take off? Hopefully I described the scenario accurately. Now open for discussion, please be civil.
