Behind The Curve

The only time Ive performed what I consider to have been a for-real high-altitude takeoff, it went fine. I was at Albuquerque, N.M.s Double Eagle II airport, elevation some 5800 feet. It wasnt the middle of summer, but it was a warm, sunny fall afternoon. I dont recall which runway I used, but it offered more than enough length for my Debonair, which carried only me, some gear and full fuel. As Id been trained, I leaned the engine before the takeoff and let the airplane fly itself off the runway. I handled it gently until gaining enough airspeed to establish a proper climb and I had some altitude.

Editorial Staff

Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

High density altitude significantly degrades aircraft performance, leading to longer takeoff rolls and reduced climb rates, a factor pilots can be dangerously complacent about.
A fatal Cessna 172 accident at a high-elevation airport demonstrates the critical danger of exceeding the airplane's angle of attack by attempting to force a climb prematurely in high density altitude conditions, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.
Ground effect can deceptively allow an aircraft to become airborne with insufficient airspeed, making it incapable of sustaining climb once out of ground effect, a risk amplified in high density altitude environments.

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The only time I’ve performed what I consider to have been a for-real high-altitude takeoff, it went fine. I was at Albuquerque, N.M.’s Double Eagle II airport, elevation some 5800 feet. It wasn’t the middle of summer, but it was a warm, sunny fall afternoon. I don’t recall which runway I used, but it offered more than enough length for my Debonair, which carried only me, some gear and full fuel. As I’d been trained, I leaned the engine before the takeoff and let the airplane fly itself off the runway. I handled it gently until gaining enough airspeed to establish a proper climb and I had some altitude.

Some years later, one distinctive memory of that takeoff is the time and distance it took to accelerate to liftoff speed. The takeoff roll was both longer in duration and with slower acceleration than I was accustomed. As successful as it was, I came away thinking the only good thing about a high-altitude takeoff is that it put me that much closer to my planned cruising altitude.