What are good fuel efficiency cruise settings for the DC-3?

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Hey all,

Does anyone have any advice on what sort of settings to use for the DC-3 when I get up to cruise altitude?

I’ve been bringing the propeller RPM back to about 75% as that keeps it in the blue bar on the instruments, and setting the mix to auto-lean, but I’m not sure if that’s the best way to fly it and if I should be doing anything else.

I did some googling for good settings but I couldn’t find any posts or topics about it.

Thanks for any help :slight_smile:

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See if this helps:

At 90 knots, PROPS are reduced to 2550 rpms, POWER is reduced to 40 inches of Manifold Pressure and MIXTURES stay at AUTO RICH.

At 110 knots, PROPS are reduced to 2350 rpms, POWER is reduced to 36 inches of Manifold Pressure and MIXTURES at AUTO RICH

At desired flight level or Cruise, PROPS are reduced to 2050 rpms, POWER is reduced to 30 inches of Manifold Pressure and MIXTURES are reduced to AUTO LEAN. Cruise speed here can be (depending on winds) up to 165 knots, indicated airspeed. (Wind only affects ground speed of course).

A further reduction can be made for longer flights at Cruise, PROPS are reduced to 1750 rpms, POWER is reduced to 25 inches of Manifold Pressure with MIXTURES at AUTO LEAN.

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