[Flyinbullmax]

I also like flying my foamy Beaver on floats, its realy neat to land on these, must remove the water ruders though
JP

[Myzee]

Never had a problem with cold flying. nitro and gas helicopters and nitro planes. It's just ME that can't take the cold!!
Aircraft fly better in the cold (denser air)

[RSVenture]

Like Chuebner, a flying friend and I flew one morning when it was -41. Really just to say we could and did!
But we flew often in the winter. We each had Sig Kadet Mark II on ski's and whenever the wind was down, we went flying. Did nothing special other than was fortunate enough to have large workshop on the farm so we started engines inside then set them outside of the door and took off. It was a great setup. Also flew a Sig 1/4 scale J3 Cub with a ST 2000. Had no skis but just put the floats on it. They worked beautifully.
It was a time when the cold didn't seem to bother me. Then old age set in LOL.

[jtsmash]

Originally Posted by Mytmerc83

I have three that fly all winter an old Thunder tiger tiger stick on skis(OS 46ax), my trusty flight test foam Bushwacker(electric) on skis and my cmp extra 300(dle 20cc) on skis. Most of the time I run wheel cause I plow my runway. But its neat to see ski tracks all over....that is till you break though and have to walk down the field to get your plane out.

I'm pretty much electric in the winter now, have 3 on skiis. (1 nitro) I usually wait unitl it's warmer than -5 LOL
My scratch built Flite test Bushwacker last weekend on home made plastic skiis. temp was about -2 so not bad at all. I look forward to putting the skiis on to get some flights in the winter, i enjoy it almost as much as putting the floats on in the spring. Lots of fun!

[FD av8r]

I taught myself to fly R/C in the NWT and when winter hit I refused to quit. I bought a TX mitt, kept the plane and gear warm and fueled in my vehicle then ran out and fired it up and flew. Never went out much below -10c but honestly flying from a river is really an awesome experience on a sunny mild winter day. That was in the days when a 600mah airborne pack was standard so only 2-3 flights per trip. We do fly at our club in winter and often have a hot dog fun fly like those hardy souls at the trout farm. For sure I now prefer my electrics...just drop in a Lipo and fly...then off to Tims after.

Happy winter to you all

Daryll

[OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK]

Jtsmash, nice plane but how the heck do you see it in the winter?

[OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK]

Originally Posted by Jamessmart24

Hey guys, I haven't been able to find much info on this. Im running a saito .40 in a small balsa cub, and when the lake freezes over in front of the house and gets a nice snow pack on it, it makes the perfect flying field. I ran electrics in the winter last year and the only problem I had was slightly shortened flight times. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with running nitros in the cold, if its just a matter of carb settings or if its not even worth trying. If maybe something like a cowl with less venting would help?
Thanks for any input.

Do your 4 stroke a favor and leave it at home till spring. Winter running is a quick way to destroy the valve train and bearings. The warm wet blow by inside the engine condenses in the valve cover and push rod tubes, then runs down into the camshaft area, past that and into the bearings. There is no real way for it to get out. Then you take it home and warm it up and the rust goes to work. 4 or 5 sessions of that will reduce your nice expensive 4 stroke to junk status!

I have personally experienced this and it is very disappointing!!

Two strokes do not have this issue as the bearings and crankcase get flushed with fresh fuel every revolution. Put a hose clamp on the head to help hold the heat and go have fun!

[FaceDeAce]

Great tip! I don't know why, but I had instinctively pulled the Saito off of the Kadet and put the old SuperTiger on it at the same time I put the skis on. Now I know why I did it!!!

Originally Posted by OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK

Do your 4 stroke a favor and leave it at home till spring. Winter running is a quick way to destroy the valve train and bearings. The warm wet blow by inside the engine condenses in the valve cover and push rod tubes, then runs down into the camshaft area, past that and into the bearings. There is no real way for it to get out. Then you take it home and warm it up and the rust goes to work. 4 or 5 sessions of that will reduce your nice expensive 4 stroke to junk status!

I have personally experienced this and it is very disappointing!!

Two strokes do not have this issue as the bearings and crankcase get flushed with fresh fuel every revolution. Put a hose clamp on the head to help hold the heat and go have fun!

[chuebner]

Originally Posted by OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK

Do your 4 stroke a favor and leave it at home till spring. Winter running is a quick way to destroy the valve train and bearings. The warm wet blow by inside the engine condenses in the valve cover and push rod tubes, then runs down into the camshaft area, past that and into the bearings. There is no real way for it to get out. Then you take it home and warm it up and the rust goes to work. 4 or 5 sessions of that will reduce your nice expensive 4 stroke to junk status!

I have personally experienced this and it is very disappointing!!

Two strokes do not have this issue as the bearings and crankcase get flushed with fresh fuel every revolution. Put a hose clamp on the head to help hold the heat and go have fun!

Great advice from a seasoned glow fuel flier.

[Mytmerc83]

Jtsmash that's what my yard and the wife green house roof looked like last winter, ski tracks all over. I just rebuilt the wing for my BW the one I had was very well used and abused and was starting to curl up. So the rebuild is more like a 3dhs big or little foot wing has airfoil on top and bottom still will run flaps and ailerons. Will finish the wing tonight and fly tomorrow before the -20's hit us next week.