Today’s weather

[rringgold]

While sitting in the house listening to the wind, I decided to look up the nearest airport weather.With
winds aloft at 10K were 69 knots from the west, if I could taxi out to runway 27 I could almost hover. Or maybe put some parts on “will-call” @ Aerodyme and go pick them up! The sky is clear, the temperature is 18F so even my lowly 112 would climb nicely! Welcome to winter!

 

[gmores]

I do enjoy winter performance but 18 degrees is a bit too much for me!

 

[gmascelli]

Unless I’m flying to warmer temps I’m not taking the plane out to play in those temps.

 

[rringgold]

As I have stated before, 15 F is my lower limit.

 

[Jaybird]

I don’t know why the aversion to below freezing temps and flying…
Don’t you have a Reiff or Tanis oil sump heater you activate wirelessly from home the night before?
Don’t you have a couple quilted blankets on the cowling and stuffed in cowl openings so the engine compartment is warmed also?
Start the engine and your oil temp is already up to 180 deg F or better?
Doesn’t your heater kick butt in the cabin and keep you toasty warm minutes after starting?
If in IMC you don’t have to worry about icing when it’s below freezing at ground?
Can really lean out engine and keep CHTs below 375 F for good fuel efficiency and engine care?
Plane performance is awesome at this kind of weather. Go somewhere.

 

[rringgold]

Thanks for the motivational input! Today’s weather is severe clear, calm winds and 6 below zero F. The airplane should climb better than ever. The trouble is that I would have to get out of the plane once I get somewhere, maybe that’s the real problem!

 

[gmascelli]

Maybe if the FBO would tug the plane out and put it back in the hangar. I’m getting soft in retirement.

Have a great day all! I’m heading for some full motion sim time at the local flight school to extend my instrument currency. I know it’s warm in the building.

 

[Commander91gm]

I know everybody thinks all of Arizona is hot but we fly in and out of our house up in Show low in those kinds of temps. It gets below zero up there. I am fortunate and that I have a hanger up there and I both plug the plane in and as Jay said I put in a heater in the back baggage compartment and everything gets activated overnight. Not that bad to pull it out and take your jacket off and get in a warm cockpit. At least out here the air is generally pretty smooth when it's that cold, even over the mountains

 

[seanlong]

Thanks for the motivational input! Today’s weather is severe clear, calm winds and 6 below zero F. The airplane should climb better than ever. The trouble is that I would have to get out of the plane once I get somewhere, maybe that’s the real problem!

 

[Jaybird]

Yeah I forgot about the small ceramic heater you keep in the plane also that Joel mentioned running off the same circuit as oil pan heater so it’s toasty in the cabin and you can take your coat off before entering. And something else about below freezing temp flying:
You don’t have to taxi with your doors open like in the Summer.
You can close those cowl flaps in November and don’t have to think about opening them again till Spring.
Of course you have to have your own t-hangar to enjoy a lot of these benefits but if you do just heat that and keep a coffee maker in there. You folks parked out on the ramp…well I feel sorry for you and even more so for your Lycoming. Just remember you can’t fly if frost on the wings.

 

[gmascelli]

Rolf,

Thought of you today when my friend based at your same airport sent me pics of his snow removal work at hangar 2160. My friend Mark is in the Beech Aero Club (Flies a Sierra) and recently relocated back to MN.

 

[rringgold]

Gary, the picture would not pull up for whatever reason.
Next time I go over ( maybe tomorrow ) I’ll look for that hangar. They’re all numbered over there.
I know a CFII that owns a Beechcraft Sierra or Sundowner, she’s a retired schoolteacher. I would highly recommend her.
I flew this afternoon, about a half hour each way to purchase cheaper fuel. I saved $1.34 per gallon by getting out away from the metro area! ($53.60). We had strong winds up there, 30 knots + out of the WSW & WNW. I would have liked to fly longer but we had other appointments today.

 

[gmascelli]

 

[rringgold]

That looks familiar!
Tuesday when I put the airplane back in the hangar I was watching the tug’s wheel spin like a top . I should buy a chain for it.

 

[FS]

It's a conspiracy to keep me from flying!

 

[proppilot]

We have three lines of defence (or offence) to get the plane back into the hangar. Hand tug, hand tug with chains and then straps around the mains and electric winch it into the hangar from behind. We could attach a tow bar to the nose gear and push with the tractor but I think that is a recipe for disaster. Frank, your temps are same as here. Severe clear and bloody COLD ! but tomorrow looks like a great flying day....

 

[plight]

This morning, Tony and I were planning a meet up for a social coffee. Temps in the early morning, was -22 C warming up to a balmy -5C. I scrubbed the mission due to the cold and no winterization kit on the 114b. Can't wait for spring.

 

[wiguy]

I’m going today, looking for ‘cheaper’(not cheap) fuel at Monroe, WI. I’m plugged in since last night. I may add a touch more to the oil blocker, last time the oil temp was a little low, though cooler out. It’s a bit warmer today, 34 or so.

 

[alim]

I convinced my wife - we'll head to Florida mid-feb.

We sold our place in FL - so this is the first full winter up here.
Even in early Covid - i had gotten to a paint shop there.
We'll hotel or airbnb it. We're vaxxed and got omicron already over xmas (all 4 of us) - and then boosted again.


i'll go up for a hop local hop next weekend - make sure everything works ...

By the time we come back winter should be over in March

 

[plight]

Moazzam .. spoke to a friend of mine a few weeks ago. He (and his family) has had Covid twice in the last year.