Is it too cold to fly?
 

I am just getting into this hobby and was wondering if it is ever too cold for the engines to run... Took my plane up and it was about 28F outside and I took off the runway and flew for about 2 minutes or so and got to approx 500 feet or more up and I heard the engine shut off... had my first attempt at a flame out landing... made it back to runway but dropped wing into dirt and broke the prop... anyone else have problems running these in the cold? oh the engine is an O.S. .40 Thanks, Mike
P.S. just thought of something else.... I didn't see an air cleaner for the carb? Is a dusty runway bad for the engine? Thanks again

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

It is not too cold, you probably had to adjust the engine when it gets colder, every time I fly in the cold I have to adjust my needle valve.

Hope that helps

Jon

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

You may need to richen the engine up a little in the cooler months. Other than being a little more difficult to start, they should work OK. That being said, I've never had occasion to fly in temps much colder than those you mentioned. The guys up in the northern latitudes might have more input.

Airplanes generally don't use air filters. I can see how really dusty runways might be an issue but the air where they fly is generally OK. I also wonder if airflow from the prop helps in some way? Regardless, I've pulled some of my engines apart just to have a look and I've never seen any serious signs of abrasive ingestion.

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

Hummmm!!! I don't know what happened to my post but here it goes again. I normally adjust the LSN about 1/8 turn to the rich side and I fly all winter.

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

I don't think the engines mind the cold as much as the pilots. Like you've already been told, just richen up the needle a bit. The worst part is holding your hand in the prop blast while you tune the engine. That, and scraping off the frozen exhaust residue after you fly.

It's worth it, though. The planes fly great in the cold, still, dense air. Plus, you never have to wait your turn to fly.

Have fun

PS - Watch your batteries!!! You will get about half as many flights on a cold battery as you would normally get during the summer. Check your RX battery after every flight.

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

mclina has it right. Pay very close attention to your batteries. Check them after every flight. I've had 2 battery failures in ten years of flying and they both occurred on very (approx. 10*) cold days. But flying off snow is just too much fun to give it up because it's cold.:D

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

Adjust the needles and go fly!!

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

TOO COLD !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? NEVER!!!! If you have time to fly it isn't to cold. The only time you can't fly is 25 mph + winds (determined by experience how you fly if you can fly in winds over 15 and up) and rain. Besides that, there is nothing to keep you from flying. Oh yeah, I forgot except for the wife. :D

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

Our problem here is it can be 35 first thing in the morning then 80 by noon. This time of year I have to open my high end needles 4 clicks and that solves my winter time tune up problem. A little hard to start first thing in the morning and they are A bit on the fat side as the weather warms up. If you can get A couple of drops of lighter fluid into the carb it cures that morning start up problem.

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

Well I have flown at -40 degrees and the engines ran great. We usually held them under a car exhaust for a few minutes first and changed batteries every flight. It can be done but I honestly wouldn't fly in that cold again. We did it mainly to have some bragging rights on our buddies but it is terribly cold!

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

To answer your second question..........................YES, dust is very bad for your engine. If you must fly off a dusty runway, certainly look into an air filter for your carb. There are tons of them out there. Here is a link to just one.

http://www.centralhobbies.com/Engines/air_filters.html


Lm

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

That is bragging rights, and nuts, I have flown around 0 and that is cold enough.

Jon

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

I like to use lighter fluied to get them started. If its a model without a cowl, I will wrap some foil around the head an poke a few holes in it. Has't let me down yet. People give me a hard time about the foil on the head. but my models always start better than everyone elses, an they run like its 75 degrees out.................. My 2 penny's

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

All good advice, the only other thing is since you are this new,,,the engine may need a bit more run time......I deadstick/flameout in almost everytime...good luck with it....Rog

RE: Is it too cold to fly?
 

I'm old enough to know better to try to fly when it is colder than 50 degrees anymore.

But when I did, I had to adjust the needle valve a little richer from the lean peak than I normally would in hot weather. For some reason the air aloft is denser and requires more fuel than during the summer. Richen it up a quarter turn from lean peak rather than 3 or 4 clicks

You have to wrap a light jacket or sweater around the transmitter and have your hands under the jacket or sweater.

It is hard to fly with gloves on unless you cut off the very finger tips of your thumb and index finger.