Has anyone flown at FL 450 - 510?

[Diesel]

I take the Ultramatic to 450 a couple of times a week. Especially with these winter winds. Fuel burn is 600lbs an hour per engine at 410.

At 450 it's 400lbs an hour. It helped us a ton as we crossed the country. It made it only one stop instead of two. The speeds were the same. .70

The groundspeed was much faster due to being above the winds.

The only thing you have to watch out for is the sheer from the jetstream. It can put a ride so rough on you that you have to descend.

 

[LrBob]

oh look how high we are

i once flamed a 24d at 420-god i hate that-view was the same on the way down to restart-But other than that- i always fly 41-43 in the 24 for the range-what ever that is


p.s always remember paine stewart

 

[temcgrew]

Few years back my buddy nursed a common non-pressurised single to about 20K. Without a mask on or any oxygen on board, either. As soon as he confirmed that the sky darkens, we told him to get his ass down in a hurry. He also reported seeing something he called "sprites". However, he didn't see any curvature, so that must be a myth

no oxygen on board? that explains the sprites, do they still follow him around?