Performance of AMT 200 (80 HP) at 5,000 feet.

[tedjgordon]

Hi:

As many of you know I'm selling my glider. I have had an inquiry from a fellow who has asked about the take off and climb rate performance from airports at 5,000 feet. I operate at sea level so I could only give him climb rates I experience here. The person I bought the glider from operated from Denver, CO (5,280 feet MSL) and as far as I know did not have any problems. I would appreciate any feed back from people who have operated the 80 HP version (Rotax 912A) from fields at 5,000 feet or higher.

Best
Ted Gordon

[John Lawton]

Ted,

Ping Tom Muller. I think he recently joined the forum. He has an 80 hp X. I flew with him a bunch out west last month. He has quite a bit of X experience at altitude with his. He seemed to do fine in Minden (field elevation 4700') although he was using "thermal assist" from time to time, especially when he had a passenger. There is supposed to be a Rotax mod where the 80 hp engine can be rejugged and bumped up to 95 hp. Tom was saying he was considering doing it to his. Not sure of the cost. Knowing Rotax, it probably ain't cheap.

Regards,

John Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135

[Jim McCann]

I flew 80 hp Ximangos for many years. I found the limit to high altitude airport performance one day at Telluride, CO when the density altitude was 11,000 feet (KTEX is 9,078 feet). I had a 250 pound passenger and I weigh 185. We filled up with fuel there and took off in no wind conditions. It barely got off the ground but it flew and once we reached 60 knots the climb rate settled at about 100 fpm. The takeoff roll was about 2,500 feet. Thus, I think that is about the limit for a AMT-200 with 80 hp at gross weight.

jim.durango@jimtec.net

[Horst31]

Ted,

I fly quite a lot in Marfa, Texas which has an airport elevation of 4849'. Even with density at 8000' I have no problems and the climb rate is 400 to 500' without passenger and half fuel. I have the 80 hp.

Horst Stratmann
200-096