no mixture control/altitude operation???

[jgerard]

So this t-cart that I am going to fly back home to Seattle from NY has no mixture control. Has anyone spent mutch time above 9K ASL in a t-cart A65 w/o mixture control??? Should I expect any plug fowlling? or serious lack of power? My normal route accross the rockies is Great Falls - Missoula-Coure d' alene and the tallest pass is about 7500 ASL. Also I have never flown a NON ELECTRICAL airplane in to class C or any TCA airspace. Do I just call ahead and give them an ETA and let them know I have no transponder? I will have a hand held radio and GPS. I need to check the FAR's but can't we operate these non electrical planes everywhere but class A and B airspace? And what about the mode C vail arround class B airspace?

Jason

[lktiller]

This'll open another can of worms, but here goes.

Class B. Don't even consider it. If you bust Class B, and the F16s don't bother you, file the NASA report that gives some immunity.
Under Class B is OK.

I fly into Class C quite frequently, just make sure it's not a busy time. Approach Control likes a 30 mile warning. Tell 'em your direction from airport, your destination, your altitude & "no transponder". No problem with a handheld radio. They'll tell you if they don't have time.
Be prepared to divert if a KC-135 comes in behind you. He's just a bit faster.

Mixture control: Can't tell enough difference to bother with it.
I like to give the engine an edge over plug fouling by adding a bit of Marvel Mystery Oil to the fuel. Especially 100LL.
Just watch the density altitude. And weather! And weight.
I've flown at 12k ft MSL, no mixture change. And enjoyed every minute of it. Still had power to climb.
Of course it took me 30 minutes to get there!

[TimHicks]

All of my flying is in my TCraft. Much of it is inside of the Mode C veil around New Orleans Class B airspace. My understanding of FAR 91.215 paragraph B-3 is that since the Taylorcraft was originally certified without an engine-driven electrical system, and hasn't since been retrofit to have an engine-driven electical system, it's OK.

I've also flown through the New Orleans Class B airspace in the TCraft. I called them on a landline before I departed. Over the phone, I told them what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it and that I had no transponder. They gave my a clearance number to repeat upon initial contact. Once airborne, I called them at about 20 NM out. They replied, "Ah 96872, we've been waiting for you." It was pleasant.

That being said, I had a harder time flying in and out of Jackson, Mississippi. I believe that they are a Class C airspace. This time I was landing at Jackson. I did the same thing as New Orleans. I called them on the landline before departing. There was some discussion on the other end of the phone whether this was allowable at all. They didn't give me a clearance number. Then when I was airborne and approaching, I made my radio call. There was again some initial discomfort on their part about what I was doing. I got the impression that my phone call didn't help alert anyone. But it didn't slow me down.

I spent the night in Jackson and the next morning I called again on the landline. This time, the controller seemed incredulous that I had even been allowed to land at Jackson. And again when I was taxiing out and made my my initial call to Ground, their response made me feel that my earlier phone call did nothing to prepare them for a non-transponder aircraft. They weren't happy about it, but they let me proceed. Tower was a little nicer, but I was happy to be away from them and I felt that they were happy to be rid of me.

[gilligansae]

I have flown under the Class B in Cleveland and Chicago Ohare (on my way to OSH last year) no problems. Just stay under the Class B and keep your eyes peeled. An inbound 747 at Ohare was descending about 1500' above me last year, made me quite nervous. In terms of altitude... I went to 10k on the way back from western Ohio last summer, just before I stopped in at Forrest's .... I could only see about 75-80 mph ground speed compared to 95+ at 2k....It climbed ok and took forever to get there, but I did not foul any plugs. I ran a bit of carb heat though on the way up and down. I dont know if that affects it or not.

Good luck

Jeff

[yerich109]

Welcome to MS, Tim. You just experienced reasone 1,339,876 that MS ranks last in just about every way. Last night on the news, I heard that we have consistently ranked #1 in one way. For the last 6 years, MS has ranked numero uno as being the least liveable state in the US.

All joking aside, MS is alot nicer than it is made out to be...

GO MISSISSIPPI!!!!

Next time you have to visit the Jackson area, fly into MBO Madison. We'll take care of you there.

[Rusty Coonfield]

you certainly can fly anywhere without a transponder except class A as long as you call ahead. look it up in the FARs and write down the number so you can quote it to silly controllers that forgot that it is possible. been up to 15k with mixture. up to 13k without. never had a problem. it'll feel mushy and wierd if you're up that high though. extra throttle helps fight that feeling. be careful and have fun!
-rusty