Had a great trip with my son over Spring Break headed out from Northern California across the Rockies the north route via Caspar, Wyoming (KCPR) then down to Colorado Springs for some family memories and Mig fun before heading back the south route including La Veta Pass, NM to Farmington, NM (KFMN) seeing Shiprock, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon landing in Bullhead City/Laughlin (KIFP) and returning over Tejon Pass returning home. I had my first severe turbulence moment ear the Greenhorn Wilderness which was eye opening (but at a safe altitude/speed) a lot of light and moderate turbulence and mountain waves some of which required riding the wave and turning off the autopilot because of the continuous climb rate required would lead to stall followed by updrafts equaling things out. Weather near Lake Powell was convective, so missed that and the beginning part of Marble Canyon this time. Altitude max was 12,500 except for some wave riding taking us a bit above and below that for a few minutes. Had an amazing trip and wish we had more time to explore and stay at unique places along the way. Next time! )
My Diamond is in for new paint now, so I’ll be having flying withdrawals until around late May.
You picked a beautiful route. I’m a little surprised you didn’t fly above 12,500’; did you carry supplemental oxygen? I fly out of KEIK in the Denver metro, and routinely cross the Rockies at 14K-18K. When dealing with mountain wave it is often more comfortable and certainly gives you more options.
Max Trescott's suggestion for mountain waves and turbulence is to use the vertical PIT mode instead of ALT mode. The plane rides the waves, while keeping you on course laterally. Less tiring than hand flying, but may require some correction if you are consistently too far from your assigned altitude.
Thanks Russ. I’ll give it a try next time. So with the KAP140 would that mean changing to VS mode at 0 fps and setting the altitude hold way off of current altitude to prevent recapturing an altitude with arm off?
steve_falconer wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2024 4:59 am
Thanks Russ. I’ll give it a try next time. So with the KAP140 would that mean changing to VS mode at 0 fps and setting the altitude hold way off of current altitude to prevent recapturing an altitude with arm off?
Sorry, I assumed GFC700. Someone who knows the KAP140 will need to respond.
Setting VS to zero is also going to cause the AP to chase the waves, right? A couple of years ago in strong turbulence, I tried VS=0, holding PIT mode, and the AP continued to throw errors because it couldn't keep up with the constant oscillations. I just ended up turning it off and hand flying.
(but at a safe altitude/speed) a lot of light and moderate turbulence and mountain waves some of which required riding the wave and turning off the autopilot because of the continuous climb rate required would lead to stall followed by updrafts equaling things out. Weather near Lake Powell was convective, so missed that and the beginning part of Marble Canyon this time. Altitude max was 12,500 except for some wave riding taking us a bit above and below that for a few minutes. Had an amazing trip and wish we had more time to explore and stay at unique places along the way. Next time! 
)
