PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Reduction in Piston Engine Horsepower due to High Temperature
Old 23rd June 2005 | 12:08
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Genghis the Engineer
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As a first approximation, it's all down to air density.

A quick back of envelope calc tells me that in going from 15°C (ISA Sea-level temperature), to 25°C (ISA+10°C), at the same pressure equates to a drop in air density of about 4%, or equivalent to being about 1200ft higher airfield elevation.

I had a hand in producing a ready-reckoner for GASCo a little while ago which helps you work out the effects of elevated temperature on a light aircraft. You can download it in a handy kneeboard format here, or there's an article about it here. As you'll see from there, that increase in temperature from 15°C to 25°C should give you about a 20% increase in TODR.

As you say, not unlike taking off with Carb Heat on - since basically the same is happening, air density is dropping with the increased temperature.

G

Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 23rd June 2005 at 12:26.
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