- Joined
- May 18, 2021
- Messages
- 418
- Reaction score
- 251
Last winter I preheated by blowing hot air from a home depot space heater into a Bruce cowl cover. While thrifty, it took a long time to heat the engine and it is scary to leave it unattended. I replaced it with a Reiff system which has elements on the sump and a band around each cylinder barrel. It weighs one pound.
I turned on the heater last year with a timer so I had to get to the hangar the day before flying to set it up. Major pain; I barely have time to fly at all let alone go the the hangar twice! This year, I bought a remote switch operated by cellular signals. I can turn it on with an app on my phone. I can also set up timers from the app.
Last year I wore a couple pairs of pants, a couple jackets, work boots with thick socks and still froze. I bought an insulated flight suit of eBay that is cozy as heck but not too bulky for the cockpit.
I flew today, oat 18f. The switch worked great, the engine warm, the suit cozy. I was very comfortable! It was beautiful and 65 horses seemed like plenty!
Except for my feet. I put chemical toe warmers in my boots and my toes were still cold. I can’t fit bigger insulated boots in there. I’m thinking about getting electric socks.
I turned on the heater last year with a timer so I had to get to the hangar the day before flying to set it up. Major pain; I barely have time to fly at all let alone go the the hangar twice! This year, I bought a remote switch operated by cellular signals. I can turn it on with an app on my phone. I can also set up timers from the app.
Last year I wore a couple pairs of pants, a couple jackets, work boots with thick socks and still froze. I bought an insulated flight suit of eBay that is cozy as heck but not too bulky for the cockpit.
I flew today, oat 18f. The switch worked great, the engine warm, the suit cozy. I was very comfortable! It was beautiful and 65 horses seemed like plenty!
Except for my feet. I put chemical toe warmers in my boots and my toes were still cold. I can’t fit bigger insulated boots in there. I’m thinking about getting electric socks.
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