Full throttle concerns -182A

[saddletramp]

I recently started a soaring operation. My tow plane is a 182A pulling a Blanik L-23. Not the lightest glider out there. 1200# gross.

I had an experienced tow pilot fly with me for three tows so I'd be current.

When I began to reduce power from take-off setting to climb setting he told me I needed to leave it "balls to the walls". I've never done that before. I always reduce to the top of the green (23" & 2400RPM) once I'm 500 or so AGL.

I know the old "never fly over square" has been de-bunked but wide open for the 15 or so minutes it takes to get to 3,000 AGL?

I should mention that the CHT & oil temp all stayed well within the green arcs. Maybe all that extra fuel from the wide open throttle helped keep thing cool.

Opinions?

 

[Stewartb]

No full throttle limits on an 0-470. Fuel keeps
it cool. Balls to the wall. If noise is a concern twist the prop down to 2500 but leave throttle all in.

15 minutes to 3000'????

 

[GRG55]

Setting aside the fact you are towing a glider now, when you say you reduce power at 500 AGL what does that do to your climb rate?

I have never changed throttle or prop settings on climb after take off until I am levelling off. I want the highest practical climb rate I can maintain. Altitude is the safety bank.

 

[denverpilot]

Wide open is fine. The green arc on an O-470 powered C-182 is marked for "normal operations" but is not a limitation. Use what you need for performance.

 

[saddletramp]

No full throttle limits on an 0-470. Fuel keeps
it cool. Balls to the wall. If noise is a concern twist the prop down to 2500 but leave throttle all in.

15 minutes to 3000'????

15 minutes was just a wild *ss guess. I'll check this weekend when we fly again. Some flights are only to 1,00 AGL. They don't take long. We call them "pattern shots".

 

[kgruber]

Yes, full throttle! Especially down low, slow, and pulling a glider. The extra fuel delivered by the FT carburetor enrichment circuit will help keep CHTs down.

 

[OkieFlyer]

I did a little towing with my C-182 when it belonged to the previous owner. If I recall, we left it balls to the wall for the entire climb. However, we were towing a Discus sailplane that could handle a 100+ mph tow speed, which kept a little more air blowing over the engine. If I had to tow any slower than about 90 mph, I might have some pause about staying at max power for the duration of the tow. On a hot day, climbing slow, I would suspect the engine might get pretty warm. I have little experience, so don't take my word for it. I'm a big fan of keeping my Continental on the cool side if I can,

 

[Clip4]

Full throttle dude. Yes, you are going cut cylinder life and need a top overhaul doing towing.