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Old 10-23-2002, 03:52 PM
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Jayebird
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Default Cold weather

Unfortunatly I have to deal with this earlier than I would have hoped for. Any issues with flying R/C when the temp. dips below freezing? I am preaty sure I will have to retrim, but other than that......
Old 10-23-2002, 04:44 PM
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cmassa
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Default Cold weather

I used to live and fly in the Milwaukee area and we would always have Jan 1 fun fly. The coldest I flew in was about 20 degrees. Try to keep the engine and fuel warm. Keep it in the car as long as possible. Keep your fingers warm. Your thumbs don't do what they are supposed to when frozen. Try to minimize the time your fingers are behind the prop as they will freeze quickly with the added wind. I had a transmitter glove which worked well. You may need higher nitro to get it started and may need to keep the glow driver on longer until it warms up. Watch out for dings - monokote breaks easily in severe cold. Wire pushrods will contract less than nyrods.

Chris
Old 10-23-2002, 04:56 PM
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MinnFlyer
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Default Cold weather

Ditto!

I usually reserve winter for building here in the great Minnesota Tundra, (I am retiring to someplace warm and dry!) But once in a while I'll get out in the cold. One of the things I do is to put your plane so that the engine is right in line with your cars exhaust for a few minutes prior to starting it. Works like a charm!
Old 10-23-2002, 05:00 PM
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P-51B
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Default Cold weather

Remember the needle valve adjustments

Open the needle more when the temp is cooler. (Air is denser and thus needs the needle open to get the proper amount of fuel)
Old 10-23-2002, 05:34 PM
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rcav8r4
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Default Cold weather flying

I cut the finger tips off an old pair of gloves. Hands stay warm and you still have the sensitivity to fly as well as you normally do.
Old 10-23-2002, 08:49 PM
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Flypaper 2
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Default Cold weather

Battery life is shorter in the cold too so keep an eye on them if you can keep the cold weather tears out of your eyes.
Old 10-24-2002, 05:04 AM
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Jayebird
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Default Cold weather

Thanks for the info!! Where in MN Minnflyer?
Old 10-24-2002, 01:51 PM
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Default Cold weather

Hey Minn, Las Vegas is nice this time of year. Maybe you can get a winter home here, and we will go flying out at the lake. Loren
Old 10-24-2002, 03:14 PM
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Default Year Round Flyer

I live in the coldest part of the lower 48, on record. Cut Bank , Montana 40 miles from Glacier National Park. I love to fly year round (die hard flyer), but within reason, not when it's -30's, or -40's with windchill. I watch Battery power, and plastic parts, as they can snap in the extreme cold, so I tend to take it kinda easy in the air, and that's about it. I have never had a problem with Engines, Fuel, or Electrics, and I've been doing it for 15 years. Gloves A Must , I use the Gloves with fingers cut out, or the ones that flip down, so you can warm up your finger tips in between flights or after you start the engine. Just warm up for a bit in the car/truck, and hit the sky!!!! Even for 1-2 flights I'm on it! Great Flying "Air" here in the winter. We have 17 degrees here right now, and some snow! Oh yeah. What a great Hobby!!!

Here are some pics from last year!
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Old 10-24-2002, 03:17 PM
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Default Pic

Here is another Pic.
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Old 10-24-2002, 03:20 PM
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MinnFlyer
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Default Cold weather

jayebird, I'm in Willmar. Where are you?

vegas mossie, I'm afraid to live in Nevada, I think all my retirement money would go into those little slots! LOL
Old 10-24-2002, 04:49 PM
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Jayebird
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Default Cold weather

Mankato MN. Dont you guys in Wilmar have a New Years day fun fly?
Old 10-24-2002, 06:51 PM
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Default Cold weather

I wouldn't know if we did. I'm not a native Minnesotan don'tcha know. So when the weather turns cold, I hibernate! LOL
Old 10-24-2002, 11:35 PM
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RCKen
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Default Cold weather

I live in SW Oklahoma and we have really decent flying weather most of the year. Usually get at least 2-3 flying days/month during the winter months. The only problem with flying in Oklahoma is you gotta learn to fly in wind. In fact, on the rare calm days we get I have the hardest time landing. I'm so used to using the wind to slow my planes down!!!! lol.

I learned that I just don't do the cold weather flying. I have learned to draw the line between flyable and funable. I might be able to fly in cold weather, but is sure ain't fun. know what I mean.
Old 10-25-2002, 04:11 AM
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Default Cold weather

Not to worry Minnflyer, we have plenty of hobby stores to take your money! LOL
Old 10-25-2002, 12:17 PM
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Default Cold weather

vegas, That's what I mean... Between flying and Golf, I don't need any more holes to dump my money into! LOL
Old 10-25-2002, 06:13 PM
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Default Cold weather

Minnflyer, how much is golf up there? Down here it can run from $60 to over $300 a round!! I had to give it up!!! Too many planes I still want.
Old 10-25-2002, 07:28 PM
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Default Cold weather

Here in Chicago I fly all year, the only thing that stops me is rain and high winds. I even flew in fog, I pulled into a loop and my plane disappeared, I just help the elevator and finally it reappeared. But i landed right after that. Personally I love to fly with skis on the plane.
Old 10-26-2002, 12:15 AM
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Default Cold weather

Hell, half the challenge is just getting to the flying field around here. Gotta love N. Idaho!
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Old 10-26-2002, 01:05 AM
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Default Cold weather

I fly up here in Canuck land usually once every couple of weekends. If I could only figure out how to keep the moose of the runway.
Old 10-26-2002, 01:42 AM
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Default Cold weather

'Dem moose are a wee bit testy right now. I've already had 2 of them try to charge me while I was out elk hunting. Never get between a moose and his mate. I don't think I would challenge them for the runway, hehehe.
Old 10-26-2002, 12:17 PM
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Jayebird
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Default Cold weather

Got any moose pictures? Post em if ya got em.
Old 10-26-2002, 03:15 PM
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Default Cold weather

I have a nice picture of one in my front yard but it was taken with one of those instant cameras and I don't have a scanner. I'll take my digital when I go out hunting again this weekend and see what I come up with.
Old 10-26-2002, 03:48 PM
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Default Cold weather

It was about this time last year when I finally finished the trainer and I didn't want to wait till spring to fly it. The engine didn't run good at 15 degrees F. We wrapped tin foil around the cylinder, it ran great again. The battery charge goes down fast when it is cold also. Prop blast is also bad for the fingers. On the upside, the wind velocity usually goes down with the temperature. Will be cold tomorrow, high in the 20's. Good hunting weather though. Have fun, Mike.
Old 10-26-2002, 03:57 PM
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Default Cold weather

I hear ya Mike, Cut Bank here. Wind has been down here, been flying all week. It's great! You guys have a great Club Site there, I'm usually down in Great Falls every other weekend. Does the hobby shop still carry Morgan Fuel, Cool Power/Omega?


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