Spending some extra time and effort to minimize drag and weight while changing the way you fly can pay real dividends.

By Ray Leis

Are you getting the most performance from your airplane? The fact is a considerable amount of unused performance gets overlooked by the average owner/operator. Both performance and range can be improved through common operational techniques, performing regular maintenance procedures and careful planning. Most of this "hidden performance" can be gained back from wasted fuel and increases in the airplane’s useful range. In turn, you can reduce the annual operating costs. And with average aviation fuel prices nudging $6 a gallon in the

At left, a Thielert Centurion 1.7 diesel engine installed on a Cessna 172. Although Thielert became insolvent earlier this year and its future remains in doubt at this writing, the inherent fuel efficiency of the diesel engine means general aviation will see more powerplants like this one.

U.S., who wouldn’t want to enhance their airplane’s efficiency? …