Friends,
Had a fun flying day yesterday. Went on a short X-country with a buddy who owns a Mooney, we decided to go to lunch over at Williston (X60). I took off first from Leesburg and he followed right behind (for a few moments). I had not left the traffic pattern before he called and said 'can you slow down I can't keep up!" I was outclimbing him by a wide margin and I was 3/4" tanks and had my son in the back so I was right at MGW. He was light on fuel and also had one passenger but I smoked him none the less. When we took off from X60 he went first. I waited for him to break ground and start a positive rate of climb before I put the spurs to her, I passed him in the climb at the end of the runway!
Good gravy I love flying this thing!!
I don't yet have any gear leg fairings or wheel pants but I was beating him in cruise by about 10-12 knots. Since I am not getting more than 2400 rpm in climb due to my heavily pitched prop, I only making 65% power, so 65hp vs. 180 hp not bad. I relize that it's not an apples to apples comparison but it was still fun.
