Thread: CTLS and high altitude airports

Hi everyone,

I am new here and though I have searched the threads I can't find much about flying to high density altitude airports. I presently own an '05 Piper 6XT with 3 other pilots and I am looking to buy a smaller 2nd aircraft for myself. The 6XT is great, 22K ceiling, 160kts and all that. But I often find myself just wanting to go fly someplace locally and it just does not seem worth hauling the big beast out of the hanger and burning 18-20gph to go punch holes in the sky or go get lunch at Harris Ranch.

The CTLS sounds like it would fit the bill and I am wondering about flying to someplace like South Lake Tahoe - KTVL. The airport is at 6264'. It does have an 8000'+ runway so long take off runs, if needed, can be made. Has anyone here had much experience with high density altitude flying with the CTLS? I could make it in my previous Archer III (kinda). That plane was about 2.7x heavier than the CTLS but didn't have twice the HP.

I apologize about my lack of knowledge about the LSA's, I have just started reading about them.

Thanks for the help,
RP

HI RP,

The CT will fly in to and out of any airport in the US with a full load.

Hi RP,

I fly a CTSW out of Bisbee Muni (P04) an altitude of almost 5000' and density altitudes in the summer approaching 9500' and am always impressed with the performance. Of course you see some degradation but you never have that unable to climb feeling like you would in a 172 or 152. The CT's really perform well. I took my CT up to 15,000'msl the other day and was still climbing 200-300fpm. I think you will be very happy with one.

Eric Swisher
Copper City Aviation Services

i've been flying my ctsw from KMMH 8,100' MSL for 3 1/2 years. its a good climber.

Mr. Lee, Coppercity and CharlieTango,

Thanks very much for the responses, it is just what I wanted to hear. I guess my next step would be to find a way to get a test flight somewhere around my area. It looks like the closest dealer is Las Vegas or Red Bluff but maybe there is someone in the SF Bay area that has one I can fly. Thanks again for getting back to me.

RP

RP

Contact the guys at Lone Mountain, I think they have a demo CTLS in California and I'm sure they would met you somewhere close to home.

http://www.flightdesignwest.com/app/contacts/contact

If you have any questions or need help with anything feel free to give me a call.

Eric Swisher
Copper City Aviation Services
Bisbee, AZ
520-266-0515

Per density altitude, I printed a generic Koch chart on the back of my checklist:

Koch Chart

Hi RP, Flying out of KAFO 6201' field elevation. Summer time DA is never below 9000' , the CT climbs very, very well at MTOW. I will eat up only 900' of runway at MTOW with DA of 9000' with 0 degrees of flaps. If you want to dial in 15 degrees you can get off in 600' or less.

Mike,

That is really eye opening to me. I could never get close to that performance from my Archer. My wife and I like to fly to Santa Fe and it looks like either of the CT's would do that if we didn't have the big plane to use. Jim, thanks for the Koch chart, I'll have to brush up on reading one again. It's funny to me how much I have put all of this in the background being able to fly a turbo powered aircraft. And Eric, thanks for the contact info, I will follow up on that. Thanks to all for the education.

RP

i always use 15 degrees (why use less at high altitude?) da gets to 11,000' here and i never use more then 500'.

climb rates vary from 400fpm to 1,000fpm depending on gross weight, conditions and prop pitch.

if you have a ct and you take off or climb performance is lacking you just need less pitch in that prop.