It’s Cold...in the Northeast

[Sling 2 Pilot]

So, what’s the coldest temperature you’ve flown at? I always pre-heat below 40F and block my oil and coolant radiators off with aluminum tape, which never seems to be enough. I get little to no heat from the heater off the exhaust. Thinking of adding a heater, w/fan, off of the coolant return flow at annual this year. I understand they work very well. Anyone have one?

So far, 30F at FL030, for quick local flights is about all I can take. Cross country flights are a no go for now.

[David]

So, what’s the coldest temperature you’ve flown at? I always pre-heat below 40F and block my oil and coolant radiators off with aluminum tape, which never seems to be enough. I get little to no heat from the heater off the exhaust. Thinking of adding a heater, w/fan, off of the coolant return flow at annual this year. I understand they work very well. Anyone have one?

So far, 30F at FL030, for quick local flights is about all I can take. Cross country flights are a no go for now.

When in Maine I would fly my RV12 with morning temps around 5-10 f and the coldest I have flown was -10 f. I did install an adjustable shutter for the oil I usually warm up with it fully shut and the half open to keep temps between 220 to 235f. The 12 heat source is the via the radiator and I can adjust the air flow there also. I added heated seats and can usually fly comfortable just where Jeans, wool socks, log sleeve t-shirt, sweatshirt over it and the a thin flight suit. I hate to where bulky coat in the cockpit.

I also sealed most of the air leaking in and I have a small blanket laying down In the spar box for insulation behind the seat.

Now that I am in PA most of the days have been in the 25-30 f and I just adjust the shutter open more and regulate the oil temps.

I do have a friend that did add one in his Rans 7 installed behind the pilot and under the passenger seat. He loves it and think it added about 20 lbs

[JimParker256]

I took off from South Dakota in a turbo-normalized Commander 114 when the temperature was –20ºF temp at the surface (–29ºC). We flew home at 16,500 (using oxygen), with OAT reading -65ºC...

One good thing about turbos on airplanes: they make plenty of heat to warm the cockpit. We still were wearing our cold-weather gear, but the jackets were unzipped and open, and we pulled off the mittens so we were just wearing the lighter gloves we wore underneath.

Refueling, however, was a real B$^CH... Icy ramp (no braking AT ALL), ice and snow covering the pumps, etc. FBO was closed up, so we had to climb over the gate and walk across the street to use the restrooms and get some food. But overall, a fun experience, oddly enough. (Not sure I want to re-live it any time soon, though... And certainly not in my tube-and-fabric RANS S-6ES!)

Nowadays, I complain when the OAT goes below 40ºF... Texas summers – the ultimate "blood thinner"...

[Sling 2 Pilot]

I went up Friday for 45 minutes. Outside air temp was 30F, I put a second piece of aluminum tape across both radiators. Stayed local. On climb out, I watched outside air temp go to 32, then 40F. Got to FL035, I’m looking at 44F. Oil temp was stable at 170F, coolant at 146F.

Wish they made an adjustable shutter like Dave has for the -12, for my SLING.

[malexander]

Wish they made an adjustable shutter like Dave has for the -12, for my SLING.

Make one.

[Sling 2 Pilot]

Wish they made an adjustable shutter like Dave has for the -12, for my SLING.

Make one.

The design doesn’t lend itself to an easy fix. I wish the factory would address the issue. Like my Diamond before it, with a Continental, the ROTAX in the SLING runs cooler than some other ROTAX equip’d aircraft.