Mountain Flying & High Density Altitude in 57 Seconds

Flying over mountains can offer beautiful scenery and views you just can’t get from the ground. Whether it’s the Rockies, the Appalachians, or the Alps, mountain flying is often an unforgettable experience. However, keep in mind that mountain flying also involves more risks than flying over the flatlands.
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[@kellysweeten6653]

Nice job Phil!

[@phildixon9552]

Thanks, Kelly.

[@brianstaude2783]

Scratching my head, wondering, "high density altitude" {?}, had to look it up... it appears that the phrase is a misnomer. The higher you are {from sea level} the less dense air is, less lift. Temperature also being a factor. Perhaps "high altitude density" would be closer to the actual occurrence. The term "high density" misses the mark of the actual trouble{s} that need to be addressed.

[@kaasmeester5903]

Density altitude just means what the altitude (in the standard atmosphere) would be given the air that the engine has to “work with” at your current location. It takes altitude into account but also air temperature. The engine will perform significantly poorer on a very hot day, and in that case “high altitude density” would also be something of a misnomer.

[@howmanable]

High density altitude means the aircraft is performing as if it were flying at a higher altitude under standard atmospheric conditions. I used to fly a Cessna 172-SP aircraft to Big Bear Airport in the San Bernardino Mountains from Yucca Valley for fuel. They had a digital display at the run up areas for runway 08-26 that said what the density altitude was. The airpirt field elevation was 6700’ ASL, but even a slight amount of temperature increase from standard temperature and the monitor would surprise you. I took off once with full fuel and no passengers when the monitor was at 9800 feet MSL density altitude. I took off on Rwy 26 out over the lake. Was barely climbing at less than 100’ perf minute . Taking off on Rwy 06 would not have been good because there were trees past the runway threshold . Every year, someone ends up in those trees !!

[@Otaner142]

Gosh that take off was very dangerous !

[@ThatWasLoud]

0:20 Increaing?

[@t.j.andrews4392]

good catch