Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Going to a new years fly in. Gonna be in the 20s with snow,part of field getting plowed. I,m thinking hand warmers for jersey glove flying. Small torch to heat the heads of the engines a bit before firing.

Are plastic props safe when cold? (both planes have apc)
My buddy told me that the other day when flying off lake his prop just barely hit the ice and it broke it .just a little. He said it was like a brittle cold breaking?
Any thoughts ?
Prop was a apc

Whatever cheers

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

This might help with the "cold fingers". We tale BUBBLE WRAP and make a box around our transmitters large enough to slide your hands up into. Really helps break the wind chill effect and allows you to work the transmitter without big gloves on. Foot warmers from the hunting section of Wal-Mart also work great in your boots. Nothing worse than cold feet at the field. Tony.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

u guys are hard i will have to sit this one out or use the G # what ever version u have :D

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

I have used the bubble wrap method also & I will put it by the heater outlet of the car for the trip to the field & it stays nice for a long time. I reheat it once in a while to keep it warm for longer flying sections. A tiny squirt of lighter fluid down the carb, or in the fuel line at the carb will fire up the coldest of engines without any heat from a torch. I would hate to catch my plane on fire. This year will be the first in almost 20 years that I will not be able to fly on the first. We moved to N.Carolina in July, so all my years have been in north east Ohio. Many times needing a 4x4 just to get in the driveway. I have used APC & also master airscrew props & they will break alittle more often when cold, while the same hit would not break it in warm wheather. Have fun & enjoy. Bill

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Are you serious.....if you need to ask here, perhaps you should sit at home:eek:.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

it was clear and 70 degrees in Houston today-no cold today-the bubble wrap made my hands sweat today

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Just make sure you fly your whitest of white models in the snow.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Despite my urge to comment on flying in that cold, I've seen lots of folks post pics of flying off snow and even in snow storms so I'll offer a couple of thoughts;

Your batteries will take a beating, watch the charge state closely on the flight packs. Do not expect them to last as long as when it's warm outside.

Depending on the ambient air temp when you set 'em up, they may need to have the fuel mixture richened up a bit to compensate for the denser air the cold temps will produce.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Looks like the previous posts have covered most of it...
One thing I would add is some Ski or Snow Boarding Goggles...because the cold and wind can make your eyes water and that makes it hard to see your airplane.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Being one of those who live in the Great White North, I fly year round - as do many others. My hands don't take cold all that well, but I have a cheap solution. I use the $2 cotton gardening gloves - they cut down the wind and cold enough for a few minutes of flying, yet do not impede the feel of the sticks. Other than that, just dress as if you are going out to watch some kind of a winter event. Don't make a big deal of it all, enjoy the winter! The less you worry about it, the better.

I fly in conditions down to, say, 10F, normally and sometimes with some lightly blowing snow. IF you can't see your airplane, it's probably getting near time to give it up and go for beers. Our club has a hut with a wood stove. Winter flying is great! If it weren't for the turkey awaiting my imminent attack, I would be out today.

Skis on planes are great, floats are even better for a wide variety of conditions.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

I flew a couple of small electric planes today at our club field in Sidney, Maine. We are in the beginning stages of a big snow storm so this was my only chance. Armed with a shovel to dig out a parking spot, layered clothing and a hooded parka, fingerless knit gloves with palm grip surface from LL Bean hunting supplies and a transmitter mitt I headed to the KVMA field. It was 27 degrees with a North wind blowing 5 or 6 knots gusting to 10 or 15 knots down the runway and light snow falling. The access road was plowed, but the parking lot was not (hence the shovel). Both planes were assembled and the batteries charged before I left so all I had to do was install the battery and walk through the snow to the flightline with my transmiiter in the mitt. It was fun, although a little too windy at times, with my Hobby-Lobby Sunday on Du-Bro mini skis (with a brand new Spektrum radio system) and E-Flite Taylorcraft on foam floats. The Sunday flew great and lifts off very quickly so the skis worked great in the slightly sticky fresh snow cover. The only problem I had was the dim light from the overcast and the all white airplane! Luckily the black spinner and black skis stood out and I kept it in close. So, color, or more important contrasting colors are important too. I had my hands full with the Taylorcraft though as my battery slid back on take-off making it tail heavy and a real bear to handle in the swirling gusty wind. I did manage to get it back on the ground and repositioned the battery and the next flight was much more manageable.

Hope you all had good First day flights.

Jaybird

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

I live in Central Oregon and it gets cold here..........I met a guy in Reno, NV one time..........he and I are about the same age..........old guys.....and he told me "if it's not 60, I'm not goin'" I pretty much made that my practice..........I had a lot to prove when I was young but this grey hair makes it not so important. I don't do anything anymore in adverse conditions.

Have fun.........:)
Andy

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Taylorcraft looks nice! Our club had a little fly-in today; temps in the 20's with a slight breeze. I fly with Mechanixwear gloves; they give decent feel and keep my hands warm enuf for a 10 minute flight. Couple guys in our club have TX mitts; I haven't tried one, but they might be nice, though they look a little restrictive. Kept my batteries in the truck on the defroster vent, and put them in just before the flight. Still lost a couple minutes duration tho...

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

I can add another good tip. We all know that our engines are hard to start when it is seriously cold. I have flown in 10 degree f. and here is the trick. Keep a can of Zippo lighter fluid handy. Squirt a shot in the opened carburator and crank the engine. It will start quickly but run poorly until the lighter fluid is used up.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

This is about the best thing to keep you warm on a cold snowy day at the field.

[sm=spinnyeyes.gif][sm=spinnyeyes.gif]

________________________________________

Greg Wright

Not a JR Rep/ But would love to be one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

So on the way to the fly in I picked up some zippo fluid.about 30 guys.Worked great. Seems it might be a good to use on any stubburn engine any time!

Thought my big stick would just go through the snow and take off. About 3/6 inches,low 20,s .not gonna happen, try,d 3 times. Then another guy grapped it and we hand launched it. Worked like a charm . good to know. Hand warmers in jersey gloves worked good. No gloves was not a option. Floats seemed to work best. The club hosting the fly in
http://myportcityrc.com/index.htm
Was awesome. Heated club house,5 kinds of chili cookies,ect.ect. big thanks
Flew my big stick 3 times and taco once.
Hope they keep having that

January 23 - Winter Fun Fly - scheduled for Sparta field
http://www.wolverineskyhawks.com/
but whatever cheers

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Greg Wright, I would love to join you but my glass just froze! Just pour some in my glove please!

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

So you learned the secret. Floats work best!. We had 15 at our annual New Years fly, just for a few hours. It snowed at 10AM but by 11AM we had bright sky 34F and about 5 inches of snow, no wind. Perfect!!! Last year I had to hire a tractor and then use my snowblower around the flightline(42 inches of snow, no global warming last year).
No gloves, just hands in pockets for a few minutes before flight. I had a glitch toward the end of my fifth flight and wonder if my A123 had enough at that temp.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Lipo,s need to be heated before flights.Saw a few ESC,s going to LVC with fully charged frozen lipos. Heated 1s worked great! tell a friend. Glad I did not have a lipo receiver pack.
cheers

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

they sell transmitter "gloves" in model avaition.

Crash into the snow drifts not the icy parking lot

on club I fly at has a wood burning stove to thaw hands heat coffee.

one year I iced the wing and prop on a scat cat it was 32 degrees with fog.

after de-ice and refuel I went out again and collected ice again

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

electric planes and no gears.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

<span lang="EN">

I got to respect, You hardy soles.   When it gets below 50, You will find Me in by the fire.  Not to mention We have over a foot of snow on top of ICE. </p></span>

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Just dress warm and have blast flying off the snow.

RE: Any tips on flying when cold and snowy
 

Why not drink a real Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey like Maker's Mark or Knob Creek? JACK SUCKS!!!!