maybe a stupid question...
 

how can i fly a nitro plane in winter?

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

Well, I don't know just how cold Hong Kong is : but you must dress very warmly. More warmly than you would if you werent going to fly. The trick is to keep the blood flowing to your fingers. If you don't, your hands become numb. So dress extra warm. And there are small chemical pouches available in sporting good stores that produce heat. You can keep them in you pockets or in your gloves when you are not flying. And a thremos of hot fluids to drink. When your hands go numb, you are out of business.

In cold temperatures, it may be neccessary to prime the engine through the exhaust port. At least the first time you start the engine. When you land, cover the engine with a rag or something to keep it warm.

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

Is winter in Hong Kong not the same as Summer every where else in the world?

;)

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

Yes you can fly in winter ... look at the pics attached. HK winter is not that cold so its fine. Also if you have problems starting then use some lighter fluid to prime the engine.

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

same as in summer, only with skis if you have snow.

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

And depending on HOW cold it gets, you may have to run the engine at a richer setting. Not until you get down to about 30 F (-1 Celsius) though.
Dennis-

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

Well everything is a bit tougher in colder weather. I went flying the other day it was as warm as it was gonna get -20 C. So I went for it, I went to the local lake and it was smooth. It was to powdery to take off with my skis so we took off a ski doo track. That worked well. My front ski was kind of screwy and was pitched up from engine thrust the whole time which made me have to put in a lot of down elevator trim. I have since then fixed it. As said before if it is below 0 you must richen up the engine a bit other than that it is the same. Here is a picture of my lt 40 with skis on.

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

I have friends in Guangzhou, China, ( one hour North of Hong Kong ) and they say it's in the mid 60's F there now. Hong Kong is the same Latitude as Cuba, so you guys don't really have a winter there, per se'. I just got 12" of snow here.

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

What winter? In Hong Kong, just go flying -- the plane & engine can't tell the difference unless the temp is below zero C. Even then, everything works pretty well until you hit ~ -20C --- whereupon you go home.

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

dyiu - same way you fly nitro heli's, which you said you already fly in another post. and what is the meaning of your name? i hope your name is d. yiu and you're not playing some practical joke on us. if you're from hk you know what i mean!!!

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

Damn, that's a nice looking plane, got to have one of those ... :D

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

One other precaution in colder weather is that plastic tends to get brittle when it gets cold, so covering films and plastic props are a lot more susceptible to damage. I've never managed to break a Master airscrew prop in the summer without either a nose dive into the ground or otherwise destroying the engine it's attached to, but last winter I broke one right at the hub without even cracking the front of the airplane it was attached to.


Andy

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

Not sure if you're having problems starting it, but from rc nitro car experience, the only way i get mine started is by holding it in front of a hairdryer for a while till it is hot to the touch, then it starts fine. Make sure you're heating the block and not just the cooling stack though.

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

We were just at our house up in WI. And I was flying in 10 degree F weather. As previously stated its most important to keep you fingers warm. I have a RC transmitter "glove". Also foam floats freeze fast and get very brittle. Ask me how I know [:@]

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

I've flown in HK and there isn't a winter there... there is fall at best when it reaches 10 degrees centigrade or 50 degrees fahrenheit. Don't tell me you can handle that cold... Serious, people bust out the fur coat when it's shorts weather for me!

The only time I didn't fly in Hong Kong is when it showered... even in light rain I'd get a plastic bag, poke a hole through the bottom for the antenna and stick my TX in.

Where are you?

RE: maybe a stupid question...
 

flying in true winter requires some adjustments to equipment & the plane &engine most certainly can tell the difference depending on how warm your summer was. the needle valve may need some adjusting , the plane it self flies better due to denser air . the engine may experience problems from over cooling which will require some aluminum foil over the cylinder fins to help hold in heat. usually it only become problem during long idling approaches and go arounds. cheap gloves with the tips cut off will keep your pinkies warm enough with out loosing dexterity.