While the rest of the Aerostar LOP mafia spools up....

1. There is nothing wrong with how John runs his plane, low(er) power settings make running at peak ICP a non-issue.

2. In the other hand, using a single EGT or TIT number to lean at higher power settings DOES risk unwittingly running a cylinder at peak ICP at high power settings.
Lycoming cylinders are tough, they can tolerate a lot, fortunately.

3. I run MY engines the way I do because it works best for me, others have different points of view and make different choices, I'm not an evangelical about LOP ops, I AM about the importance of understanding how our engines operate.

4. I'm surprised that more folks didn't comment on those performance numbers:
215KTs on 26.5 gph what other twin can do that?

I was thinking same while reading your numbers

700 U2A conversion performance chart

http://aerostar-owners.com/phpBB2/downl ... .php?id=46

Folks will have to pay a few bucks to the Empire to access that link.
(Building and re-building the Death Star isn't cheap.)

Aerostar-Forum.com has down loadable manuals (for free).

:thumbup: I was thinking same while reading your numbers

Forrest,

As an Aerostar owner, I've come to expect the exceptional.

Jgreen

Started the annual today and did the nose gear/hat inspection and made it through in flying colors (pardon the pun). Unbelievably all of the compressions were between 72 and 78 which was shocking given that the cylinders have 1000 hours on them. I guess my technique of flying it like I stole it is working.

That is one sexy looking airplane

Here is the real sexy part

That has to be one of the nicest Aerostar's on the planet

Thanks, it is a testament to Jim Christy at Aerostar who essentially remanufactured this plane to like new coupled with a checkbook that was willing to make it happen.

Now here is my Bonanza that I just finished restoring. Note the paint job matches the Aerostar.

All that but no gear swing video?

That's a demerit.

Now that's how an Aerostar should look. Nice job Eric. I understand the process. A lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of money, a lot of anguish, but, in the end better than anything out there in it's class. Hands down, no question, no debate.
Beautiful wheel well. I'd love to see under the floor boards and inside the tail section. I'll bet they're immaculate.
I guess if anyone ever wondered what a "hat section" is when under discussion, now is the perfect time to point it out.

Holy smokes just look at that panel! Not sure how that could be any more awesome.

You and Jim did it right!