Ive been flying the supercub in temps down to around 10 below, and have had no problems, I want to take up the nexstar tomorrow, (new steel clevisis and better horns are installed!) Temp to be around 15 above, but supposed to be dead calm and clear, Usually dont get many days like this around here in the middle of january! Is it too cold for the glow engine? will it have trouble staying lit? I use 15% glow fuel with 18% oil. The last flight was at around 32 degrees and the engine ran fine. (just not the clevisis lol) Any and all input is welcome! Thanks all!

My former club used to fly every January 1st no matter what, and at least one January or February "Chili Fly" with hot chili provided. 0ºF is pretty cold, -10ºF is very cold, but the glow engines did fine. The Monokote occasionally burst like a drum-head on a hard landing, and the batteries don't have the juice they do in balmy 45ºF weather, but the engines run fine.

Just keep a close eye on your batteries. I find that a couple drops of lighter fluid in the carb helps the engine start easy............. But then, you already knew that, didn't you.
Paul

its too cold when your fuel freezes as you pump it.

Not quite sure how to take your post paul, Have I come across on this forum as some kind of know it all? I hope I have not, I did not know of the lighter fluid trick, I start my plane in my heated shop where I keep it, Then I taxi out the front door to the runway and take off. Thanks for the input guys, Looks like tomorrow will be a FLY DAY!

LOL!

I think he meant that you obviously already know how to get an engine started in the cold since you have already flown it in the cold before.[sm=wink_smile.gif]

You know it's too cold when you can't feel your fingers on the High End Needle. [&:]

Thanks for the info guys! Im a diesel mechanic by trade and I know how diesels run in the cold![:@], Just wasnt sure about the glow engine, the wind chill has got to be a bear up there at 60 mph! just checked the weather again and looks to be 0-6 mph nw wind..........straight down the runway, wish I had 2 sets of batteries now, 1/2 to hour flying tomorrow is just not gonna scratch the itch! oh well, better than nothing.

anymore at my age anything below 50f is too cold if you are going to be out there all day.

The problem around here after the ground has partially frozen it is best to stay off bare ground until it is all thawed out or it will be a muddy mess.

Towards the middle of March we begin to get anxious and we fly up into mid November

Hey 6,
I flew my Nexstar earlier this month in 0F conditions. Worked like a champ, except for the front ski came loose and caught on landing. The engine, now that it is tuned for the cold will start pretty well for me now. After I have run it once that day, I can usually flip start it again after I have come in for refueling. It actually works better that way, because the electric starter barely has the torque to flip it over at that temp.
Have fun and enjoy the new hardware. Oh, and if you don't have one yet, pick up one of these... http://www.rcmitt.com/
Curtis

Now that mitt thing is really cool!!! I flew 2 tanks today before I nearly froze to death, amazing how cold you get just standing there watching a plane fly around Everything went well today, think its time to remove the training aids for tomorrow!!!! Last day before the wind comes up again on wed! (according to the weather man, but sometimes he lies[:@])

There is a tx mitt on ebay now. Cheap nice shape, I have the same model. Item # 170297579544

Hmm, you must also be in your early 30's

Aw shucks. I didn't mean anything. I just figured that since you had already been flying in the cold, you probably knew some of the tricks to involved. The lighter fluid is one. Wax on the bottom of your skis (paraffin or an old candle) keeps the snow from sticking. Keeping your glow starter in your pocket (where it's warm) will keep it stronger. Have fun.
Paul

Most of us do not have the luxury of flying behind the model workshop

Why I would fly more often if that were the case. I have to drive a couple miles to the field.

I don't even think of my hands. After I flown I try to think if my hands were cold and I don't know. When I get the plane ready; yes then there cold but while flying I don't even pay attention to'em( they could be on fire and I wouldnt even know). The joke going around the field is;when its too cold and windy for everybody else; Brian ( me) will be flying. I guess since I'm 18 and the rest of the club members are in their 30s and 40s; I can handle a bit more; one guy told me wait 20 years and see if you still fly in that type of weather. Right now I'm pretty much flying by myself unless I bring a friend or family member; which I like to do.

Me too. I did my share of Winter Flying for the past... I'm 43 and can't stand the cold very much anymore. I did it in the past to get the AMA's All Season Patch, now that I've earned it... I see the snow and feel the cold and the urge to wait until late April seems very attractive. Plus the roads up here in NYS in the winter are terrible, we get all the Lake Effect! I have to drive 15 miles to my field... just not worth it.

I'm younger then 8, I will go fly when it's all the way down around 40. That's almost the truth anyway. I like to fly on a dry lake bed that is in a valley. When I'm at the top of the pass and my temp gauge says 40 it's at least 30 down on the LB. My hands and feet were frost bitten when I was about 18 so when it's in the 30s I tend to lose the feeling in my fingers, that's not a good thing for an RC pilot. I don't like gloves and I can wait until the weather warms up so no big deal. I had never learned about the lighter fluid trick until last year when it was down into the 20s here and my friend in NY told me about it. My engines start a lot better now in the winter. Winter in Las Vegas, we had snow flakes falling yesterday. We love seeing the tourists come to town in there shorts thinking it's always 100 in the desert.

How are you supposed to get to the barn where the models are at? This happened this morning from daylight until noon

You don't!! It's time for a good book or some old movies. Two days ago I had some {very little} snow and now it is quite nice out. Tomorrow we are supposed to have high winds then back into the record highs in the low to mid 70s. I have already been getting phone calls for flying days. It will be warm enough for me then.

I sent the wife out with the snow blower and she cleared out the driveway, the turnaround, and all around the mailbox but it took two tanks of gas.

She likes doing that - gives her a feeling of getting something done I guess. I make sure she has a good snow blower and plenty of gas.

^^^ sounds like me (im 16)
I fly electrics at a baseball field 100 yards from my house, its to cold when the lipo's cant deliver enough current power the motor, or if you throttle up and it takes a few seconds to actually spin the motor (about 20 degrees).

as for nitro planes, my field is 20 min away so i dont bother to go out unless its above freezing (including wind chill) because my hands get to cold with thin gloves after 30-45 min (i usually go to fly for 2 or more hours)

I tried the gloves thing even got the ones with 3 of the fingers cut out, I couldn't do it, tx had a different feeling to it. I guess if you stayed with it you might get used to the gloves. The guys with the tx tables seem to be ok with the gloves. If it doesn't get above freezing I stay home.

ya the gloves do give it a different feel. i use a neck strap and cotton gloves, so they are not that warm but they give me more control. when i fly my electrics i can use about any glove because i fly them slow (to fast and the battery wont gove me the current needed)