I experience an increase in engine RPM by gaining altitude at fixed Throttle settings “without increasing throttle power lever angle”
For instance at 2000 feet the engine RPM is 96% at full power.. at 13000 feet the RPM is 98% at full power as well. Could someone give me explanation for this phenomena ?
In: Physics
I’m guessing that it’s a reduction in drag due to the thinner air?
In any engine RPM depends on the applied power, and external factors which are acting against that power.
In cars a common external factor is the incline of the road. Driving up a slope will result in lower RPM than driving down a slope, if you keep your power (throttle/gas pedal, gear) constant.
In the case of a plane the main external influences are wind, and air density. The higher you go, the less dense the air becomes, which in turn means that your rotors will experience less friction with the air. This reduced friction allows the rotor to spin slightly faster for the same amount of energy.
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