Winter flying?
 

Do clubs located in the "cold states" fly in the winter? I haven't seen any people flying at the field located near my house, but i've seen ads for skis that you can mount on your plane. If anyone reading this lives in the Metro Detroit Area and their club flys in the winter, please let me know.

Winter flying?
 

Yes winter flying does take place..


Usually the flight are Short!!!!!!!!! :D !

Winter flying?
 

Winter flying is a blast. Dress warm and if you fly right after it snows, the powder is so awsome to do touch and goes in. It is a blast!

you bet
 

I've shoveled a runway just wide enough to fly.
pic is not of that time.

Winter flying
 

Our club usually doesn't fly much in cold weather but that because it is a personal choice. Every New Year's day we have a fly-in and serve hot chilli and enjoy the snow birds. There are usually about 30 guys with 15 of 'em flying.

Personally, I can't wait for warm weather, my fingers get cold and I'd hate to lose a plane to numbness.

Flying Aces
Swartz Creek, MI

snow fly
 

I live in Monroe and we fly in the snow
drop me a line with your phone number and I will get in touch with you

Winter flying?
 

Our club is open. We don't plow the access road, so if you can get in you can fly. We do do a Ice Fly off one of the lakes in the middle of winter. I generally don't fly when it gets cold, but you never know. I may just go out one day and brave the elements.

Bill
PMAC

Winter flying?
 

You can fly all winter. We do it all of the time here in Wisconsin, even though our club only as one "Frost Bite Fly in" like most of the others. Charge up your elec starter real good (or use your truck battery like I do). Sometimes a little lighter fluid (used sparingly) will help things get going too. Toss a couple of hand/toe warmers (the kind you open up and they self warm) in your boots and pockets and you will be toasty warm. Enjoy!

Ahh, winter....
 

Just think of that two foot of snow on the ground as a big cushion for those, ahem, rough landings. :D :D :D

Winter flying?
 

Skis are on the way.

Winter flying?
 

Oops! I forgot to mention in my winter flying post that unless the snow is less than 1/2 inch deep or the top crust is really hard, the skis will sink in the snow and you will get stuck. Especially when you hit any sort of tracks in the snow. The best thing for winter snow is your trusty set of floats. I had a set of skis on an old plane and I was always getting stuck. A guy with a set of Goldberg Superfloats was going right through some foot long boot tracks with no problems. I switched to floats for winter flying and have never had any problems. Sorry I posted this after your post vacinekm.

Straightup

Winter flying?
 

So if u live up in Canada is it better to get skis or floats?

Winter flying?
 

I would go for the floats as they are dual purpose. You can use them in the summer on your lake and in the winter anywhere. There are sometimes when skis work, but floats work off of the snow no matter if it is hard or fluffy snow. Floats are a blast. Do some float searches here on RCU and you will find all the info you need. There's even a whole area just for float flying. Enjoy!

Winter flying?
 

I won't use my floats to fly off snow. I might hit a tree and the float set up takes time to do and money. Skis on the other hand just replace the wheels and you can usually get off unless the snow is really fluffy. Get 60 size skis for a 40 size trainer and away you go!

Winter flying?
 

It really depends on what type of snow you usually get,if you have a lot of light snow skis are not the best thing. I found the floats to work well in any type snow but what I like best is skis cut out of 2 in Styrofoam they set up easy like skis but stay on top of the snow like a float

Winter flying
 

Just a few of tips,

No.1 Take a garbage bag, and make a hole for your Tx antenna, and your head, after you've got the plane ready to go, put it on. It makes a great windbreaker/heat retainer.

No. 2 Not really a tip, prop bites hurt TWICE as much when it's freezing out!

No. 3 Sunglasses! Even when it's not sunny.

Jetts

Winter flying?
 

I picked up a chunk of Polar fleece from the sewing department at walmart, and sewed a transmitter mitten. It's just a flat envelope with a hole in the top for the antenna and open at the bottom for my hands, big enough so I can wiggle the sticks. If it is really cold, I put a chemical hand warmer in there too. This works to about 5F.

I wear liner gloves while working on the plane. They are thin enough to wear while flying too. Good to about -5F.

I do all set up at home in the warmth of my garage.

I ALWAYS use the electric starter in the winter. Getting a cold finger smacked by a prop hurts about 100 times worse than it does in the summer.

Sun glasses are a must.

Also a big thermos of coffee.

Coldest weather I ever flew in was -20F. The cold dense air does amazing things for engine and airframe performance, but I froze my parts off and probably wont do it again.

Winter flying?
 

Whats so important about sun glasses? (even when theres no sun) Would regular glasses do the same job?

Winter flying?
 

Great day just got back from flying field. 3hrs. flying. Don't try this with out glasses. UV rayes come thru cllouds or overcast. SAVE YOUR EYES
THEY ARE THE ONLY PAIR YOU HAVE.

Winter flying?
 

One other thing guys.... Pay attention to your batteries, their charge won't last nearly as long on really cold days. Anything below about 40 degrees or so and you will begin to see a difference. The colder the worse it gets. A Voltwatch helps!

Sunglasses
 

PaPa,
The need for sunglasses is that it reduces eyestrain, even when there is no sun out the glare from the snow can really wear on you after awhile.

Jetts

P.S. If you have trouble starting you're plane, try some Zippo lighter fluid as a primer-works great!

Hot paks
 

Hmmm...maybe use one of those exothermic hand warming heat packs around the receiver battery??

Winter flying?
 

We do a bit more winter flying than some. It's certainly NOT my favorite time to fly, but it can be a good time. Like Denjones, our club does a New Years Day event . Last year I had made some skis for my the big Telemaster that my sons fly. They worked great. We also bring out hand launch airplanes - they land nice in the snow.

I don't use a mitten or cover around the Tx. I do use a set of gloves with the thumb tip and index finger tip cut off of them. They work great.

Check and charge your flight batteries often . I saw a 1/4 scale CAP crash last Thursday and it *could* have been a cold battery not pushing enough current.

I use a small propane torch to warm the head of glow engines prior top starting them. I guaged the temp to the head with an infrared thermometer and it looks like I warm the head to 100 degrees F or so. It seems safe and the engines start ALOT better.

http://www.devino.org/mark/airplanepics/4star.jpg

This 4-Star was flown only a little one winter. Good snow plane, homemade ski's

RE: Winter flying?
 

Hello;

I've heard that winter running can wear an engine differently than summer and ruin it for future summer flying. Is there any truth to this or was this just someone’s excuse to not freeze fingers?

RE: Winter flying?
 

what are u talking about lighter fluid? u mean put it in the engine?