I've been wanting to climb up to 10,000 feet for quite a while but just never got around to doing it. Today, the winds were rather gusty down low but silky smooth up high so I started to climb. Next thing I knew, I was at 6000 feet and figured, why stop now? Once I got up there, I was just about out of gas so I shut off the engine and glided back down.
Aircraft: 1987 Spectrum Beaver RX 550
Engine: Rotax 503, dual carburetor, single Bosch points ignition
Prop: 64" 2 blade Warp Drive with 9° of pitch
Stall Speed: 35 mph
Cruise Speed: 55 mph
Max Level Speed: 70 mph
Never Exceed Speed: 95 mph
Rate of Climb: 800 feet per minute
Fuel Capacity: 18 US Gallons
Fuel Burn: approx. 5 gph
Range: 200 miles (no wind)
Take off and landing distance: 100-250 feet
Empty weight: 500 lbs
Max take off weight: 900 lbs