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IFR Approach Technique In A High Performance Twin

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JeffSlutz

Commercial, Multi-Engine, Instrument, A&P
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
Messages
194
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Location
45G [Brighton, MI]
Last year I traded up from a Cherokee Six 260 to an Aztec with speed mods. That increased my cruise speed from 135 knots to 170 knots.

I’ve been practicing IFR approaches (in VFR conditions and without a view limiting device) to try to determine the best settings of manifold pressure, RPM, gear, flaps, etc. at which points in the approach (before being established, IAF, FAF, DH/DA, etc.).

I’m finding the biggest challenge is slowing this thing down. On final it seems to like 11 to 12 inches of MP (the bottom of the gage is 10”), gear down, and a notch of flaps, and about 450 fpm descent. It seems like an awfully low power setting but I’m still getting 120 mph at this setting (blue line is 102).

For you guys who fly Aztecs IFR, I’d like to hear what power settings you use, when you lower gear/flaps, speeds, rates of descent, etc.

If you fly other twins, feel free to chime in with general tips and tricks for the “new twin pilot”.

Thanks in advance.
 

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