Simviation Forums

I was flying the Barron 58 with the glass instruments the other night.  I was climbing to 14,000 at 700 fpm and the airspeed was 100 knts.  I leveled off at 10,000 and the airspeed went to 140 knts.  What is the cruze speed and altitude for the Barron.  The Cesena Caravan does 140 knts at 10,000 with no problem.   Yes, the Barron was clean, gear up flaps up and at full speed.  Thanks

Don
Las Vegas

It's a Baron.  At that altitude the indicated airspeed is substantially less than the true airspeed. With the lower air pressure at altitude the air molecules are more widely spaced so when they enter the pitot tube they give a lower IAS reading.  You can calculate this if you use some of the aviation theory books.  And most GA aircraft have a scale on the airspeed indicator or you use your prayer wheel, (circular slide rule) to match indicated altitude, air pressure QNH, and IAS to give True Airspeed.

But practically look at your Garmin,  it will tell you your groundspeed (which is still not your TAS unless there is no wind) and you will find it is considerably higher.

Remember with an unpressurised aircraft like the Baron, you and your passengers will need certified oxygen masks at that height.

In Australia unpressurised aircraft are confined to flying beneath 10000ft without supplementary oxygen.

But remember your aircraft still stalls spins and manoeuvres at IAS.  That same lower density of molecules means your plane will stall at the SAME indicated airspeed as it would at 500ft AGL.

You still live or die by the Sacred Six.

But remember your aircraft still stalls spins and manoeuvres at IAS.  That same lower density of molecules means your plane will stall at the SAME indicated airspeed as it would at 500ft AGL.

You still live or die by the Sacred Six.

Excellent item to point out !

Also, when comparing performance change with altitude... remember that the Baron has a normally aspirated, piston engine(s). The available horsepower goes down as altitude goes up. The Caravan is a turboprop, and actually likes higher altitudes (up to certain point where the limitations of the propeller come into play).