Winter is coming...

[N82HB]

3 days ago we got our first snow of the season, about 3". Then it opened up to a gorgeous day for Saturday and had to go play, even though it was only about 18 degrees.

I took off from our house and flew to a friend's house. Picked him up and headed to Brendon's house for Coffee. It was a good day of playing.

How is your weather treating you??

4005
Steve's house

4006
Brendon's House

Since these pictures we have had another 3" of snow and it is still flurrying now while I am writing.
***If you are wondering about that gorgeous engine cover, my mother made it! Wing cover's are next on the list.

[SkySteve]

Very nice looking cover. It's 13 degrees in our part of Utah with about 8" new snow.

[N82HB]

I was wondering about you Steve. I have seen some pretty crazy pictures from a friend in Bountiful. Seems a little early for this.
K

[Esser]

Was -25C here yesterday. Got our first dump if snow 3 weeks ago. But back home in Ontario it's still a nice 10C or 60F ish

[avidflyer]

Up here in northern MN, it has been warmer than usual, we've had several 3-4" snowfalls in the last 3 weeks, but then it warms up and melts again. Right now it's about 25 F and we've gotten 2" of snow this AM, but it's supposed to warm up again later in the week. Usually we have permanent snow on the ground by now. Just out of curiosity, I looked through my logbook, and see that in 2007, 12-5 is listed as first flight on skis, 08 is 12-9, 09 is 12-29, and 10 is 11-27. I wasn't flying last winter because of flipping my plane in Oct 2011. I'm all fired up to try the skis again this winter though! For me, flying in the winter is the best time of year. Take care, Jim Chuk

[chefwarthog]

well you should come fly in Québec, yes today it was very mild temperature..... 61F with low wind and hight ceiling!!! not so bad in the North!!! no snow have cover the soil yet.....:p

[DesertFox4]

Not quite ready for skis on the Kitfox here yet.

It's finally getting cool enough to drive with the convertible top down here.
74 degrees and sunny. Perfect day today. Now where did I leave that snow shovel? Oh yes. Back in Minnesota. ;)

4007

[SkySteve]

Nice ride, and the same color as your fox! I assume that's "sun yellow"?

[Papa Beach]

To exactly where do I send the hate mail? :D

[avidflyer]

Well it seems like winter has arrived here in Northern MN. We now have 4" of snow on the ground and if/when we get more, I'll have to switch to the skis. I did get a little flying in today, temps were about 25 F. Took a bit longer to get off with the drag from the snow, but the roll out on landing was sure short. Snapped a few pics while I was up of the local lakes and my strip. Take care, Jim Chuk

[wannafly]

Sweet ride Steve. We have booked flights for early Jan into Phenoix. Heading to mexician dentist, hope to have time to stop in and say hi.
Great pictures evryone. Headed out last sunday as it was sunny and not to cold. I dont have that cabin heat in yet. Oh well off to Costa Rica tomorrow:D will have some catching up to do when we get back....

[Av8r3400]

Strategic placement of duct tape over the radiator does wonders to keep the temps up. (Adding a thermostat would help too...) I also do some duct taping on the cabin/cowl to help with the breeze keeps the warm in.

I usually dress in layers, long johns and jeans with a sweatshirt under a medium coat. That will keep me comfy down into the low 20's. Lower than than and I just take shorter trip legs.

[ackselle]

duct tape, radiator and oil cooler covers..... and long johns, gloves and a toque!

[SkySteve]

And gloves and a stocking cap

[Dorsal]

Variation of whats been said plus a cloth separator wall between the cabin and the back of the plane (helps a lot).

[dholly]

1st winter with my kf4/912, hope the Earls cabin heater works! I have a manual oil cooler shutter and radiator shroud. For the duct tapers... Are you taping the shroud opening or radiator itself? And can you give us N.E. newbs some idea what Radiator % needs taped off for what temps with, say, your oil cooler 50% closed off. Thnx.

[SkySteve]

I use aluminum tape for the radiator rather than duct tape. It doesn't leave a gooy mess when removed in the spring. I cover the part of the radiator that is exposed in the front cowl opening. No need to remote the cowl, just apply the tape from the front opening. If I remember right it only takes one strip of tape.

[Dave S]

In "Minnesnowta" it is pretty common to come to the tiedowns at a 'port we are visiting and find that the recessed tie down rings are level with the tarmac with extremely high quality ice.

I have an old Estwing Geologists pick that is absolutely perfect for busting the ice out and whacking through the steel tiedown loop to clear it. This past weeks experiences reminded me why I have it sitting in the baggage bay in the winter.....in the summertime it works equally well on tent stakes and portable tiedown stakes........the point is plenty sturdy to pry the portable tiedown stakes out of hardened clay when we're ready to go.

Not the only company that makes these but here is what they look like...one piece steel handle with a nice cushion plus enough weight and and a long sturdy point that works well for this other-than-intended original purpose. I think mine cost about $7.46.......sort of tells you how long ago it was purchased:o

http://www.toolking.com/estwing-e3-14p-14-oz-rock-pick-metal-handle

Sincerely,

Dave S
KF & Trigear - Flying
912ULS Warp
St Paul, MN

[N82HB]

Winter is finally here!
Here is a flyout to Cavanaugh Bay for Lunch.
Two Kitfoxes and a big engine Cessna 140.
I put new pictures in my Formation and Ski Flying folders.

4102

[avidflyer]

Yes, winter is definatly here in northern Mn also. Still don't have a lot of snow, but enough for me to put the skis on. Temps have been cold, although that's normal for this time of year. I flew on Friday and also today for an hour or more each time and the high for each day was about +12 F. Today I was flying with gloves off cause I sealed some airleaks around the passenger's door that I found while flying Friday. If I close off the fusaloge behind the seat, I think I can get rid of the snowmobile suit as well. Snapped a few pics of the Avid on it's winter footwear as well. Take care, Jim Chuk

[Dorsal]

That looks like SO MUCH FUN! flying with skis on my plane is high on my bucket list. As for winter flying and a warm cabin, I find the biggest leaks are between the seat pan and the door frame. I stuffed some packing material in there while thinking about a more elegant solution, suggestions? I am also pondering why I get so much cold air from the back of the plane which I assume is from the elevator slots which appear to be nice little air scoops. Thinking of attaching a flat rubber (or other flexible material) to the leading edge of the gap such that it would cover the slot where the elevator is not. Thoughts comments ideas?

Merry Christmass :D

Perhaps we should move this and a few other comments to a warm cabin thread as the topic comes up frequently this time of year.

[Av8r3400]

The turtle deck and wing roots are also great places for cold air entry.

My yellow plane is so drafty I just have accepted it an wear a "hoodie" under my coat to keep my neck warm.

[t j]

Clear, calm and 18 degrees F yesterday. The little 503 fired right up after sitting for two months and climbed like I was solo.

I have no cabin heater in my kitfox but was warm and cozy with my Gerbings heated vest. My wife said she was pretty cold..no heated clothing for her. I still have some draft holes to find and plug on her side I guess.

Wind turbins in the snow
Elk feeding station
Barn blew down in the wind a couple days ago. Almost cleaned up already.