One of the first things you learn in this hobby is how addicting it is. Heli addicts are some of the most loyal addicts on the planet. When winter comes around, you find that a heli junkie rarely lets the cold stop him from getting a flying fix. If you find yourself faced with flying in the cold, there are some things you can do to make the experience more enjoyable… (complete article inside)
I love flying, and since I live in northern Utah I must either fly in the winter or take a four month break from the hobby each year. I choose to deal with the cold and get as much flying in as possible. I know that many of you are also in the same boat. Here are five things I have found helpful in making winter flying enjoyable:
#1: Bundle Up!! It should go without saying that a warm pilot is a more competent pilot. Wear as many layers as needed to keep warm, especially focus on the head and hands. If your hands need warmth, use a radio glove (basically a coat for your radio with openings for your hands to go inside) or you can also wear fingerless gloves, such as those found at a bike shop. If you need help keeping warm in between flights, they make some great portable catalytic propane heaters nowadays that work great and are inexpensive. Bottom line, stay warm 
#2: Let your model acclimate to the temperature and then recheck everything. Your helicopter is most likely coming to the field from a place that is warm. When you get to the field, set your helicopter outside for 10 or 15 minutes before you start flying. This allows the gyro and other components time to equalize with the temperature at the field. Before you fly for the first time that day, check all your bolts, tail belt, etc and adjust if necessary.
#3: Retune your nitro engine for the cold. Cold weather brings with it denser air. This means that you may have to make some slight needle adjustments in order to get your air/fuel mixture back on track between seasons. Denser air means more air in the same amount of space is added to the mix, therefore you will need to richen the needles on your engine a bit to tune things.
#4: LiPo Batteries hate cold weather. While all battery chemistry types are less efficient in the cold, lithium packs seem to be at the top. If you take a LiPo to the field that was charged at the house and set it outside for a while, there is a noticeable voltage drop. Also, a cold pack does not deliver its energy as well as a warm pack. The way to get around this in the winter is to keep the packs warm right up until they are used in the helicopter. One popular place is in a coat pocket next to the body, or with a hand warmer nearby. Other people keep them in a cooler with hand warmers and a small blanket. How far you go to keep them warm is up to you. If you just run them cold, be sure to shave 30 seconds or so off your flight time so you dont accidentally run them down too far. Personally I find that the inner pockets on my coat work quite well for keeping my LiPos warm before flight, and they make great hand-warmers after a flight.
#5: Lastly, have fun!! Seriously, the most important tip for flying in the cold is to just enjoy it. The scenery in winter is fantastic, nitro engines put out more power, and there is always another crazy flying buddy nearby to BS with after a flight. For those of you still caught up in the winter, fly as much as you can and remember: Spring is just around the corner!
Text and Photos: Jim Innes
Be The First To Comment
Related Post
Please Leave Your Comments Below