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Years ago, after a partial engine failure in my G-200, I decided to conduct some tests to determine best-glide speed and glide ratio. I didn't end up capturing as many data points as originally planned, but the numbers were still pretty interesting.
--> If anyone has additional data points, please send them to me and I'll happily include them here.
Key take-aways:
- The G-200's glide ratio is somewhere between Pitts and Cessna
- The best-glide speed is fast!
- The descent rate is also fast!
- The prop setting makes a tremendous difference, especially at higher airspeed
Test conditions:
- Timing and distance are for a 2000' ft descent, starting at 9000' MSL and ending at 7000' (a downside of living in Colorado -- the dirt is more than 5000' above sea level)
- Calm winds aloft
- Gross weight: approx. 1220 lbs.
- Angle-valve IO-360 engine with 10:1 pistons
- 200cm MT prop
The results:
| Airspeed (KIAS) | Distance (nm) | Ratio | Time (sec.) | Descent Rate (FPM) |
Prop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 1.8 | 5.94:1 | 65 | 1846 | Fine |
| 110 | 2.3 | 7.59:1 | 73 | 1643 | Coarse |
| 120 | 1.5 | 4.95:1 | 47 | 2553 | Fine |
| 120 | 2.6 | 8.58:1 | 75 | 1600 | Coarse |
Glide Ratio
Interesting, i was getting something like 1000fpm inidcated descent rate @90kts which is around 9:1... At something like 5000' altitude
I think you can double that
I think you can double that glide ratio with the prop stopped. I did some stall testing with my prop stopped and was impressed with how shallow the nose down attitude was in a normal glide.