Kyleb wrote:
So, Gary...
How fast is the little bird at the top end?
How about cruise speed and RPM?
I'm very curious to hear what a <seemingly> stock Cassut can do...
What, if any mods do you have planned before this fall, and what sources are there for information on how to tune an 0-200 to really perform in race trim?
Well, I'll try to answer each question in order here...
We timed one of the laps I flew and according to one of the fancy little conversion charts that someone had, it said the little airplane flew an average speed of 194. Not very fast, indeed.
My cruise speed and RPM depends on how stinkin' tired I am and how quickly I want to get out of the airplane. But if I cruise around 3,000 RPM, it typically gives me between 160 and 170 mph (I flight plan for 160).
While at the Pylon Racing Seminar, I was gung-ho to do all kinds of neat little tricks and such to make this little booger go as fast as humanly possible. However, my mentor and former racer, Dusty Dowd, brought some reality back to me by telling me to just enjoy this first year and to remember the reasons I'm racing......1. Because it's a lifelong dream of mine. 2. To recognize my opportunity to be a part of the history of the sport. 3. To recognize my opportunity to be a part of the history of this particular airplane. And he's right. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I won't do some tinkering here and there to do the best I can while at Reno. After all, it is a race, and I can tend to be a bit competitive. However, I won't be spending every waking moment trying to modify and improve the airplane just so I can win the Bronze race. I think that would distract me from my
real reasons for being there.
Either way, I can assure you that I will be having the time of my life.
Gary