
NOTES ON LEANING THE MIXTURE FOR MAXIMUM POWER AT HIGH ALTITUDE AERODROMES
It is very important that pilots understand leaning the mixture principals' when flying in PNG. Some of the aerodromes that we will go to are about 6000 ft above sea level. On a hot day, this could relate to density altitudes of about 9000 ft. The engine must be leaned properly to develop sufficient power to take off.
THE FOLLOWING IS A SIMPLE METHOD PRACTICED BY LOCAL PILOTS
1) Lean to peak RPM or
2) Set the fuel pressure/flow to the figure recommended by the engine manufacturer for the Density altitude.
Both of these I find work out about the same and the second one is probably the simpler.
THE FOLLOWING NOTES ARE AS SUGGESTED BY THOMAS TURNER OF THE AMERICAN BONANZA SOCIETY
The absolute, best way to find maximum horsepower for takeoff is to go to full throttle/full rpm on the ground, lean to about ~75F/40C* rich of peak EGT, release brakes and go. The reality is that puts a lot of strain on the airplane you might want to avoid.
Instead, try this: Before your trip, level off at a fairly low altitude and go to full power/full rpm. Lean to find 75F/40C rich of peak EGT and look at the EGT (for any given cylinder; most people use the hottest). This gives you a target EGT for maximum horsepower for takeoff pretty much regardless of altitude. Now when you depart a high elevation airport, come to full throttle/full rpm and quickly lean to get the target EGT plus or minus a few degrees.
Other technique:
*I know these numbers are not precisely equal. They are approximations and are easily read on most indicators.