Well, yesterday Sunday was my last chance to fly before a long week of work, the weather was quite crappy this weekend here in Chicago area. After talking to my friend we've decided to give it a shot! I was a bit worried about snow getting into the radio or electronics in the heli, so we've rapped the radio in a plastic bag and made small openings for the antenna and sticks, I also made a little plastic hood for the gyro since this was the only thing exposed directly to snow. I've got to tell you this was probably the most fun I've had with my heli since I've started to fly! when taking of or landing on snow you could see swirls of snow around the blades and the rotor wash on the ground! It looked awesome! My friend flew his Stick120 we were a bit worried do to the lack of de-icing systems on his wings LOL Well I know I'll do it again if I get a chance. oh, and no I won't fly in rain

So how many of you guys have tried that?

We were out flying in it yesterday, before we left the field we had about 2 inches on the runway. Flew the heli a bit and flew the planes 3-4 times each. I'm new to hte heli's

Sounds great Patternfly! I would really like to try that. We have about 10 inches here, so I'll have to dig a "landing hole" . The problem is I'm all out of fuel! Hope some arrives before all the snow melts although I can't see that happening for a while yet.

Sounds like you all had a blast, yesterday we flew it was sunny and about 55 degrees in the sun light, but the wind was blowing about 5mph+ made it a bit cooler...nice day.

Hi!
We fly in snow for at least 4 or 5 months a year here in Norway, the land of the midnight sin!
I can be pretty cold, on the picture you can see Rune Nessen flying his Raptor and its 27 degrees below freezing point! Usually we stay home but it was new years day, we just had to fly!

I see you guys find it hard to fly with gloves to I use some with fingertips out of them similar to weightlifting gloves. They help some..but you still have the feel on your gimbals.

You have got a valid point! I use gloves all the time, have just cut off the tips of the thumb and the finger next to it (index finger?) and even then I feel cold! I have just got a transmitter mitt but I have not used it yet, maybe in the weekend.

otto

i accidently cut all the fingers on my gloves out and when its cold outside i couldn't fly very long cuz i couldn't feel my fingers so i just go and sit in the car til my fingers r warmed up then get out and fly again

patternfly, where in Chicago do you fly?

You gusy need to get one of these from Zack Sparks. They are absolutely the best for winter flying.

http://www.outlawheli.com/txmitten/

He's a link to my flying on Sunday

http://www.gparcs.com/Video/ForwardFlight2.wmv

Don't laugh to hard, it's only the second attempt at forward flight.

MonkeyDude, I fly at Shoe Factory Field

where is that? I live in Chicagoland too. Do a lot of people fly there? Or is it just you?

Otto- Just curious- When flying in way under freezing weather have you ever noticed strange things happening to the gyro? The reason I ask is because my Futaba GY401 manual tells you not to use it in temperatures of below -10.

We try to fly every Sunday(SW Michigan). I generally have pics here by Mon-Tue.
http://www.mrcc.info/Pictures/Sun.html

WillMac795
No Sir no problems with any gyro so far in the cold, piezo gyros that is, I have heard of mechanical ones that did not want to rev up.

otto

BBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR to the tenth level..

MonkeyDude, there are alot of people here, aspecially on weekends, I'm in hoffman Estates, the shoe factory road is near barrington and higgins, right of off I-90

I flew in the snow for the first time not too long ago. There was some freezing rain mixed in. When I was packing up, I noticed the plastic covering on my wood blades was ripped up at the blade tips....

Jerry

ctseaplane, that's strange, I've used woodies when flying that day and the covering is still in perfect shape I don't see how moisture can affect the plastic well, maybe I was lucky, but anyways, don't let the wood get wet, who knows how moisture can affect that, I'm sure it would make the blade much heavier.

Good Morning

Snow crystal will damage your blade covering. Blades will ice up in very cold mist. I love my gassers during winter. Suggest that pipe insulations be used on the skids. I use the small diameter then covered with the largest diameter to provide a good footprint and to keep the t/r out of the snow. Check your batteries before every flight. I use a transmitter muff. Be careful your eye glasses don't fog up when there is no wind and that your eyes don't water-up when there is wind.

Cheers
Don Dow

How do you guys weather proof your radio gear when you are out in that kind of snow and water ?? I am constantly worried that I willl get everything wet ..Especially my gyro ...

I stood underneath the tailgate of the Tahoe, that took care of the transmitter. I didnt hover a lot so that water wouldnt pool on top of the gyro. Oh, and i spent a lot of time inverted

Jerry

Afternoon All

I am out of here. {:>) Get back to me when you to discuss some serious winter flying.

take care
Don Dow
Barrhaven Canada

In lower Michigan if you do not fly in crummy weater ,you do not fly too much.... I fly all winter long I have found that useing the small chemical heat packs one in each glove with no fingers ( in the palm ) I can fly for hours...I will say that starting my os .91 in under 30 degrees is no fun though....

Flying a plank in the worst weather aound doesnt bother me .. I have been flying here in the rain and wind forever .Thats half the fun with them . But I am relativly new to winter rain flying with helis and I have only been flying them when it isnt raining and with planks I dont care if it is raining ..I just keep thinking the bearings and the gyro will get all screwed up in the rain .. I just keep thinking there should be a way to keep the gyro dry.. Besides the gyro is just about the most expensive part of the heli ..