Flying in cold weather

[Roger Larson]

Hi Carl. Even though I don’t have the coldest of weather in Arizona we do fly in the low to mid 30s F at times. For me in the Revolt with a windshield but no fairing i only need heated insoles (gerbing) They draw 1 amp each and i run them from a fuse block i installed off the battery with 10 Gauge wire. Diane uses all kinds of heated gear both battery operated and also hooks up to my 12 volt system off the trike. We have many hours running on this with no issues. She has the gloves, jackets and insoles. She has a very low tolerance for temperature swings. We do wear ski suits that are very comfortable and do not restrict my movement. If i needed to stay warmer i would wear my gerbing 12 volt jacket under my suit and i for sure could get myself to sweat in the coldest of weather. We have controls on our Gerbing jackets that let us control our heat level. Strange thing is that if i just wear the heated feet insoles (Slip inside my shoes) i haven’t needed to wear heated gloves or heated jacket. Seems to warm my whole body up. I keep the wind of my neck though. The ski suit many wear is First Gear. Both Revzilla and Amazon sell them. If you check out our flight on Youtube to Lake Havasu under Larson Adventures you can see them. Happy Flying.

[John Glynn]

Hello Carl, I am in Wisconsin and fly all year year. I did purchase some Milwaukee heated gloves which I can also use when snowblowing etc. Most of the time only on the lowest setting. Battery lasts fairly long. I have quite a few tricks for cold weather flying and would be happy to share with you. A little Dawn dish soap on a very soft cloth spread very thinly on the inside of the visor prevents fogging as well. (A hockey visor trick). If flying with a passenger I fly with a few body warmers. Always handy if carefully passed to a passenger to remedy a cold spot prior to landing. A body warmer, not a smaller hand warmer, placed inside you upper arm will heat the blood in you arteries that supply blood to your hands. Using these body warmers which last 10 hours can help keep hands warm fairly inexpensively as well. I use a guide wear Gortex fishing suit that is not insulated as a shell to block the wind. I prefer two piece with the lower piece bibs that do not restrict my body at all. Just layer up. I also fly with at least two sets of sunglasses, you never know if problem with visor you can wear glasses to continue flying to a landing. If landing on a field or lake with no wind sock, I also atttach a small piece of yarn as a tell tale on my front flying wire as you will not be able to feel any wind all covered up. Wing as more lift, engine more power, prop more thrust and air usually smoother. Winter is awesome.

John Glynn

[Paul Hamilton]

I will post my video on heated stuff.