PLANE JIM

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I was wondering-what is it like to fly in the snow-we only have occasional rain and winter temps in the 50's and 60's and also 70's-thanks

henryhighwood

Are you gloating?

PLANE JIM

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no not at all-but only have been in the snow once my whole life

Volture

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I lived and flew back in Missouri 25 years ago. I recall that we stuck the cylinder head in the tailpipe of the truck to warm the engine enough to hand start it. Some guys used propane torches. Seems like we usually spent all of our time starting the planes, and not much time flying them! Now that I'm in Tennessee, I've never flow in snow. But my Dumas Windy airboat is a blast to get out when it snows!

glowplug

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It's kinda like this......

PLANE JIM

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that is awesome-I guess if the snow is not somewhat packed it would bog up or make for some serious braking action

glowplug

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Plane Jim,
Definitely big-time braking action. That's an asphalt runway.....so it's pretty easy to fly off of it with no skiis with up to 2" of snow on the runway. You have to select your planes wisely.....you need to bring something that has a lot of power and will lift off easily...something that normally lumbers to get off of the ground won't get enough speed through the snow.

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

Here is a buddies snow vid!

Jeffs Plane on Snow

pete913

Some folks won't believe this I'm quite sure, but I've participated in starting and flying models in minus 20F weather. Starting them is interesting to say the least. Keeping your fingers from freezing off is even more interesting, but they fly great in that cold dense air. Skis are a real hoot as well. One tip, make sure there is NO grease anywhere in the servos gear train or ball bearings, and use a larger flight battery pack, as the cold derates batteries a big bunch.

BaronSchwab

-20. Wow.......

rc-sport

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We finally have snow on the ground in Chicago so tomorrow I get to put the skis on for the first time this year. If it wasn't for the cold fingers I'd say it was my favorite time to fly. Touch and go's off the snow are awesome.

FLYBOY

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Supposed to be 30 here tomorrow. The only problem is deciding which plane to take. I am thinking about putting my huge PT-19 on skis, that would be best if it is deep, or the stik, or the skat kat which has the skis on already. Heli is an option too. What to do what to do.

Hmmmm, I know, I will take them all! Well, ok, mabye not all, how bout two.

Flying on skis is awsome. Touch and goes are the best. Ranks right up there with float touch and goes. Can never get enough of that. I went out last year and was flying a friends slow flying trainer type and must have done 100 touch and goes. One ski, then the other, then both, then run one line with just one ski down the runway. There are so many things to do. It is all so fun! You gotta try it.

Deadeye

I agree with FLYBOY, but I actually like floats better than skis for snow. My LT-40 can do a lot of ground tricks when the snow is deep. Things like jumping off drifts, and getting airborne, and landing on one float, and digging the wingtip through the fluffy snow. What a blast.

JoeAirPort

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AND if you do have a little crash or hard landing in deeper snow, brush it off and go back up. No damage.

Joe

ballgunner

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Someone used to sell a TX mitt that covered everything, including the pilot's hands and the antenna. Perhaps your LHS still knows where they can be had. When it snows here in AZ we just wait a day or two until it melts, at least where I live. If we could just be blessed with a lot more snow and rain we would probably be delighted to have to deal with the stuff. Dry only goes so far and then it becomes a pain.

Deadeye

Ballgunner is reffering to the Mongo Mitt. http://www.slopeflyer.com/html/mongo_mitt.html Email Katie, and get her current prices, I have a red one with my initials on it, I think I paid $35 or so. I wouldn't fly in the cold without one!

FLYBOY

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I have one too. Never used it much. I will use it this weekend though.

Friends have tried floats off snow. I haven't done it. I have run skis off of wet grass though. Takes power, but you can make it go. Talk about short field landings.

Goinstraightup

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This was a week before Christmas. 40 degrees and was a blast.

Deadeye

I tried skis last winter, the snow had to be heavy and wet for them to work for me, and our snow is usually dry and light, and blows all over the darn place. I scratch built a set of floats last March, and never used them all summer. I still haven't tried them on the water, but the snow is a blast! You gotta try it FLYBOY. If you have a lot of space, and deep enough snow, take the wings off and zip it along the ground. Drifts are especially fun. And in the powder, those floats only sink in an inch or so. I was really surprised how little snow they displaced. My LT-40 must do 30 or 40 on the ground with floats and an OS 46.

RVator

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Here in Central Va. we just got about 6 inches of snow Friday. I made a pair of ski's for my stick 40 trainer from 4 mil coraplast and some 1/4 poplar strips. It was 14 deg this morning when I tried it. It took full up elev until they planed on top of the snow. It was fun and it was cool seeing the tracks from the ground run in the fresh snow. My hands getting cold was the only part not fun. I limited flight times so I could still fell the radio and safely land. I think it will be better when it warms up a little.

Deadeye

My Mongo Mitt keeps my hands toasty warm. The clear vinyl window on the front fogs up even. They recommend using chemical hand warmer pouches in the glove, but I never have had a need for that. My hands sweat in the Mongo Mitt. I just put on regular gloves after my flight to keep them warm while I fuel, etc. I agree, it is no fun flying with cold hands, as your 'feel' is greatly diminished.

O2man

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It has been cold in the Yakima Valley since before Christmas. On New Year's day it began snowing before sunrise and continued all day. I got inspired and decided to build skis for my Aircore Colt. By the time I got them done I had one less yardstick and it was -10 outside, but the snow continued. I was really excited! When the snow finally stopped falling, I went to set the plane on the snow. Powder snow does not support the weight of the plane. I'll have to wait for help to stomp out a landing field. I'll need a very large field, since I have never come to the point of being able to reliably spot-land anything, including my gliders.

SeenMCrash

Wow....that plane and flying site sure do look familiar! Where did I see it before?....Oh yes! It was in the "Crash Pictures and Discussion Forum"! Is it the same plane? Was it repaired? Or was the crash on the same day?

-Andrew

Outlw36

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prefer floats myself. They continue working when it warms up and starts melting the snow.

Jim

7th Angel

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I also prefer floats for snow flying. I've tried skis, and sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, but I've never had the floats not work. When this pic was taken, the temp was in the mid 40's and snow was starting to get mushy.