OK, going around the world, what constant, critical “value/ingredient/number/ element/factor/quality/quantity” did the Voyager maintain for 9 days?
...Altitude? No.
Heading? No.
Power setting? No.
Fuel Flow? No.
RPM? No
Temperature? No.
Pressure? No.
How about… AOA.
The way I remember it they started out with both motors at full power doing 132 kts, and ended up nine days later going 92 kts with the front motor shut down and the back motor at low power. I think those numbers are close.
Holding AOA was a key requirement for making the distance with the fuel available. Heavy, they held more speed. Lighter, they needed less power and speed to support the desired AOA. Just another thought on the relationships between weight and AOA.
I wonder if Steve Fawcett had the same focus? Surely.
Reminds me of the 4400 nm/33 hour LongEZ flight where a cable was used between the wheel axles to keep them from spreading under the load, but once airborne the cable was released and retracted because the drag was unacceptable.
