Not yet. I doubt it will be that much more efficient than letting the sim handle the mixture, but I’ll try.
I’ve eliminated the time variable, gallons per hour is irrelevant after all, simply measuring fuel use vs distance. And also established that testing at 4x times speed (2 notches up) still provides (nearly) the same results. Streamlining measurements makes things a lot easier, input the same start fuel (to reset) and map the result.
I have a test running now (still with auto mixture) comparing flying slower yet higher. Early impressions, it’s more efficient than faster and lower. (Using FLC mode to let it climb at will) However it was less efficient at the start, so faster is still more aerodynamic, yet height (leaner mixture) seems to hold more weight. So probably flying at KIAS 110 with more throttle, higher, is even better. The problem is icing, still need to find the most efficient ways to fly safe.
A lot left to test, most efficient speed at different heights (I guess it’s the same in KIAS but always nice to confirm) And then trying to find a more efficient mixture than the sim uses.
Results from current test
PLWN to HI25 910.3nm, Clear skies 26c 76F ground temperature, no wind
Climb to 12K ft FLC 100 then reduce to 90/90 stay at FLC 100
Fuel (80 total) Distance (910.3 total)
12,000 ft 36F 4.93 4.93 32.4nm 32.4nm IAS 100 TAS 122 6.57 nmpg
12,930 ft 32F 8.17 3.24 70.0nm 37.6nm IAS 100 TAS 124 11.60 nmpg
13,480 ft 30F 16.06 7.89 165.4nm 95.4nm IAS 100 TAS 125 12.09 nmpg
13,670 ft 30F 22.45 6.39 244.3nm 78.9nm IAS 100 TAS 125 12.35 nmpg
13,850 ft 29F 28.09 5.64 314.5nm 70.2nm IAS 100 TAS 126 12.45 nmpg
13,980 ft 28F 33.22 5.13 379.1nm 64.6nm IAS 100 TAS 126 12.59 nmpg
14,120 ft 28F 37.73 4.51 436.4nm 57.3nm IAS 100 TAS 126 12.71 nmpg
14,400 ft 27F 47.70 9.97 564.6nm 128.2nm IAS 100 TAS 127 12.86 nmpg
Around that distance I was doing 12.30 nmpg flying faster and lower (with same throttle / propeller settings)
12,030 ft 46.12 5.44 532.4nm 66.9nm 36F IAS 110 TAS 134 10.88 gallons per hour 12.30 nmpg
12,050 ft 51.57 5.45 599.4nm 67.0nm 36F IAS 110 TAS 134 10.90 gallons per hour 12.29 nmpg
Anyway this test should easily land on the shore if I let it keep going! However I’ll need quite a bit of margin to manage with live weather. (Or wait for a nice tail wind)
Actually I overshot this time. When I checking again it was gliding down (selected tank empty) and just passing the airstrip. I circled back and managed to land, that airstrip is hard to find, pretty small haha. It didn’t help I had the simulation rate still too high!
Anyway under perfect conditions, very do-able. Now to figure out how to get a margin for dynamic weather.