damp weather flying?
 

Hey Guys, I would really like to go flying today but it's damp, cloudy and some very light mist. Is it ok to go flying? I've got a .61 4 stroke engine on a trainer so it's not an electric engine.

RE: damp weather flying?
 

A lot of what you can and can't fly in depends on you. I've seen guys that could fly in a completely "black" sky of a thunderstorm!! [X(] :D But for me I avoid when it's overcast. It's too easy to loose orientation on your plane against the grey clouds, or just loose the plane completely. In weather like this I'd just stay home and have a hot cup of coffee.

Ken

RE: damp weather flying?
 

All good points RCKen, the weather hasn't changed a bit....I don't want to take any chances so I'm staying home.....[:o]

RE: damp weather flying?
 

Visibility would be the controlling factor for me as well which would include losing it into the clouds. Hello! Did anyone see a model plane fly past here?

RE: damp weather flying?
 

Ya it makes thign interesting i only fly into them when there small clouds and then your like wre the hecck is tat plane then you see iit, normally falling like a rock at full power...

RE: damp weather flying?
 

I've flown my electrics quite a few times in rainy weather, but I keep them close so as not to loose orientation. I keep my nitro planes in the hanger. In addition to all the the items listed above, I can't see that a big drop of water right down the carb would be good for it.

RE: damp weather flying?
 

I suspect thaqt with the running temp of the engine the drop would not last very long,

RE: damp weather flying?
 

Getting water on my transmitter and airborne electrical components makes me uncomfortable. Besides, I wear glasses and getting any size drops on them does funny things to my vision...

RE: damp weather flying?
 

Good point. I do stick my transmitter in a plastic bag with just the antenna sticking out when I fly in the rain.

RE: damp weather flying?
 

It all depends on how you feel; I flew last year on a very Foggy Morning at my Club. I lost sight of my plane a few times, but I kept a steady thumb, and predicted where my plane was going to be. I had to lower the altitude a few times... because I heard the engine, but I could see no plane. I had to prove my craziness to our Club. I made sure I was the only one at our field at the time of flight. Safety reasons of course.

When I landed my plane, the whole thing was soaking wet and full of grass cuttings, because I mowed the lawn the prior evening. Water and Glow Oil is quite messy! I've been caught in rain once last summer; the rain came out of nowhere. It was one of those Sun Showers! My plane faired just fine every time. So don't worry too much about it.

If you have questions on how wet your plane can be, just ask a guy who has a Float Plane. There planes are wet all the time. ;)

My transmiter was always fine when it got a little wet. Once I've landed my plane and turned everything off, I take it to our Pole Barn at our Club, and I wipe everything down with a Clean Towel and Paper Towel. I use my body to shield the Transmitter when I get that unexpected shower.


Peter Dowling aka Luftwaffe Oberst
AMA District II # 865404
Aero Modelers Club
Pulaski, NY