Electric reality?
Complex learning curve Technical
Fixed-pitch props are fine, but learning to fly with a constantspeed propeller opens avenues to lots of new aircraft. Peter Steele set himself the challenge…
I
have been flying for 15 years and have spent that time blatting about the skies in the usual 172s and PA28s. So when the chance to fly something larger and faster arose I realised it could change my flying forever. Instead of being content with the throttle and mixture controls, I would learn to use the ‘big blue one’ – the control for a constant-speed prop. I guess the next step would usually be to fly a 200hp Piper Arrow, but at Fowlmere, we have a 1989 Piper Saratoga with a 300hp engine, six
38 | FLYER | December 2020
Above Saratoga selfie… it’s a bit bigger than I’ve been used to!
seats, and a three-blade prop. I’d admired it from a distance while flying the Archer IIIs. It’s fixed gear, so one less difference to worry about, but would it be a step too far? It’s an impressive aircraft, with a wingspan of 37ft, a nine-litre flat-six fuel-injected engine, containing 300 horses driving a three-blade Hartzell constant-speed prop. Cruising at 130kt, 102 US gallon tanks, air conditioning, stormscope, GTN 750, six seats and two baggage compartments make it a capable tourer. Other features include the large front windscreen (unlike
