Take-off aborted
I hired a club a/c at the weekend. On runway, opened throttle to full RPM. RPM didnt get past 2100. Glanced at remaing TODA, gave it a few more seconds, still 2100. Throttle closed. Taxied back in. Spoke to an inst who had a look at agreed RPM was too low for full throttle. Spoke to CFI. "Oh thats normal for that a/c...didnt you see the placard above the RPM guage?". Went back to a/c. Ducked under instrument panel and lo and behold there is a little piece tape saying "ADD 80 to RPM". Nicely obscured under lip of instrument panel (esp. for my height). Felt like a prat, but still glad I did what I did.
Made a mental note to open this up on PPRuNE for discussion as am curious as to opinion of others on this one - so here it is. Is it acceptable for engine guages to have little notes on them saying "dont forget to add X to whatever is shown here"? and should I have launched on the basis acceleration was normal? (my gut answer is still no on this - but other opinions invited)
Club didnt charge me - and were very good about it. The CFI also flew the a/c for a circuit to double check all was okay.