bbchien
Touchdown! Greaser!
Yah. Have to ferry a plane this afternoon. Started the warm up ritual about an hour ago. Fingers are still not quite thawed out.
#@$%*!ing Cold
- Thread starter James_Dean
- Start date
wby0nder
Cleared for Takeoff
I've been wondering if I could fit my climbing equipment and saws in the FB. Weight wise it would be close I think. I did a bunch of climbing in Boulder after a big tree wrecking snow storm and flew commercial with just 2 gym bags, one with 2 little saws and the other with climbing gear. Might be doable.
wby0nder
Cleared for Takeoff
Diana
Final Approach
That sounds great! If you make it down, we'll put you up for the night, and I'll even cook something (if I can remember how
)
Diana
Final Approach
Sorry James. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go get in the hot tub.You guys are killing me. I'm out running heat tape on gear boxes, and you are talking about being naked in a hot tub. Grrrrrrr!
I'm so cold I'm actually contemplating starting myself on fire for a few minutes.
cwyckham
Line Up and Wait
I have fond memories of staying in a hut in the Canadian Rockies with friends during an ice climbing trip. It was about -10F out, and they had a sauna. We'd stay in the sauna (naked, of course) for as long as we could stand the heat, then run down the path about 50 yards to the creek. Somebody had chopped a hole in the foot thick ice, and we'd all jump in the creek and run back up to the sauna. On the way up the path, your wet feet would freeze to the ground a little bit with each step, even though you were moving fast. It felt like the ground was sticky.
Chris
Diana
Final Approach
Is your airplane a two seater? If it is, I wonder if we could do some filming while you're here? I really want to get some air-to-air video shots of the Citabria doing acro sometime soon.
Yikes, that sucks especially the genset. Do you keep the fuel and oil heated for it? I remember freezing up a Sperry Car in Canada while running.
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
James_Dean
Pattern Altitude
Yeah the oil and fuel are heated and the genset is in an enclosed space. However, this was a standby genset and we lost power from our main service. In this case the genset must go from dead stop to making 75% rated power in about 9 seconds. It appears from the trend data on our monitoring computer that a main bearing failed. The oil temp went to the high limit in about 15 minutes and the safety shut the unit down. The factory is saying that at the cold temp the bearing was probably destroyed before the oil made it to the passage. Not the first time this would have happened.
It was a 1000kw kohler unit with a 37 liter 12 cylinder engine. In total we have 12 generators on our site from 250 to 1500 kw. We keep a spare unit on a trailer for this situation, so we didn't suffer too many problems from the failure.
That is, until the owners see the bill for a teardown of that engine.
James Dean
wby0nder
Cleared for Takeoff
As Tony says, Fly Baby is one seater. However, I could rent a 152 for the trip. Local FBO rate is about $65/hour wet. It's about 300 Nm I'd enjoy some air to air.
gkainz
Final Approach
Poor sod that has to do head count every morning to make sure none of those hens pulled a "Great Escape" overnight!
"1, 2, 3, ... darn it! Hold Still! 1, 2, 3 ..."
jesse
Touchdown! Greaser!
We could arrange that. I can easily fly the DA-40 in the 60 knot range. The low wing, canopy, and visibility would make it ideal.
Diana
Final Approach
We can use our Skyhawk for the second plane. I wondered if a low wing would be better, but it might not make a difference.
Edit...but then again a low wing might be better.
Last edited:
wby0nder
Cleared for Takeoff
We can use our Skyhawk for the second plane. I wondered if a low wing would be better, but it might not make a difference.
Edit...but then again a low wing might be better.
Depends on the angles you want. Do what you can with what you have is my motto.
MM
CJones
Final Approach
We can use our Skyhawk for the second plane. I wondered if a low wing would be better, but it might not make a difference.
Edit...but then again a low wing might be better.
If Tony and I ever get down there in the RV, we can use it as a photo plane as well. With that full glass canopy, we can get just about any angle you want.
CJones
Final Approach
Yeah the oil and fuel are heated and the genset is in an enclosed space. However, this was a standby genset and we lost power from our main service. In this case the genset must go from dead stop to making 75% rated power in about 9 seconds. It appears from the trend data on our monitoring computer that a main bearing failed. The oil temp went to the high limit in about 15 minutes and the safety shut the unit down. The factory is saying that at the cold temp the bearing was probably destroyed before the oil made it to the passage. Not the first time this would have happened.
It was a 1000kw kohler unit with a 37 liter 12 cylinder engine. In total we have 12 generators on our site from 250 to 1500 kw. We keep a spare unit on a trailer for this situation, so we didn't suffer too many problems from the failure.
That is, until the owners see the bill for a teardown of that engine.
James Dean
Yuck.. While I was working in our main shop on Friday, I overheard the mechanics talking about one of the generators they have as a stand-by in the chemical packaging/handling area. Apparently the oil wasn't flowing it it well enough, either and caused a couple of failed bearings in it. They filled the filter with warm oil to try and get SOMETHING flowing, but it was too late. Can't wait for the 'big guy' to get the bill for that one. *yikes*
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
If Tony and I ever get down there in the RV, we can use it as a photo plane as well. With that full glass canopy, we can get just about any angle you want.
yea im not sure how thats going to work, i may have to go home one of these weekends...
CJones
Final Approach
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
*grumble grumble grumble*
i know i know. we'll see. if i do, itll be the weekend of 24th.
CJones
Final Approach
Ha. That's cool. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, then we'll get down there SOME time. Don't think the plane is going anywhere in the near future.
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
Ha. That's cool. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, then we'll get down there SOME time. Don't think the plane is going anywhere in the near future.
sounds good. get it over here if your dad isnt using it. we could do some flying next week, 12th +.
Tony
-really broke
sky goddess
Filing Flight Plan
I'm cold just reading about the cold.... U can all visit south FLA anytime...I grew up in southern MN but I've certainly adapted to Florida weather. It gets down to 50 and I think thats cold, now thats messed up I know!!!
Yeah the oil and fuel are heated and the genset is in an enclosed space. However, this was a standby genset and we lost power from our main service. In this case the genset must go from dead stop to making 75% rated power in about 9 seconds. It appears from the trend data on our monitoring computer that a main bearing failed. The oil temp went to the high limit in about 15 minutes and the safety shut the unit down. The factory is saying that at the cold temp the bearing was probably destroyed before the oil made it to the passage. Not the first time this would have happened.
It was a 1000kw kohler unit with a 37 liter 12 cylinder engine. In total we have 12 generators on our site from 250 to 1500 kw. We keep a spare unit on a trailer for this situation, so we didn't suffer too many problems from the failure.
That is, until the owners see the bill for a teardown of that engine.
James Dean
Interesting, I usually rig emergency standby generators with an accumulator tank and a magnavalve that releases with the starter circuit to charge the sytem for quick prelube. Oh well, at least it wasn't your only set and you didn't lose everything. It's only money and he'll write it off, might even be covered by insurance...
.
James_Dean
Pattern Altitude
Interesting, I usually rig emergency standby generators with an accumulator tank and a magnavalve that releases with the starter circuit to charge the sytem for quick prelube. Oh well, at least it wasn't your only set and you didn't lose everything. It's only money and he'll write it off, might even be covered by insurance...
That is the way it is supposed to work. The theory is that the internals were so cold that the prelube shot didn't make it there before the bearing got it's ass kicked.
James Dean
astanley
En-Route
FWIW, in our external 100% load data center units, we ran two-stage oil (one tank low viscosity warmed oil, one tank high viscosity warmed oil), and in the winter, Tank One is fired at the bearings, in the summer, Tank Two is fired. It works pretty well, but that set up cost us an additional $10,000...
Cheers,
-Andrew
old job had 2 2000 kW gen-sets for max load within 6 seconds
Might be a worthwhile thing then to rig a circulating pump to run the heated oil through when the temp drops and there's a likely hood of needing the gen set. Keep it lubed and a bit warmer, kinda a "standing by to stand by" thing. Not exactly cheap to operate, but you'll only need it a couple dozen days a year. Might be cheap insurance, lot's cheaper than a crankshaft on a 3412.
flyingcheesehead
Touchdown! Greaser!
And, let it be known that passing south through 39 degrees, 21.124 minutes north latitude, that I saw 20 degrees F for the first time in two weeks! 
If it gets much warmer, I'll have to get naked.
If it gets much warmer, I'll have to get naked.
gprellwitz
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2005
- Messages
- 12,761
- Location
- Romeoville, IL
- Display Name
Display name:
Grant Prellwitz
Please Don't.If it gets much warmer, I'll have to get naked.
(signed)
Pilots of America management, members, and right-thinking people everywhere!
CJones
Final Approach
If it gets much warmer, I'll have to get naked.
I NEVER thought I would ever be wishing for cold weather, but I think I have just found a cause worthy of me doing so.
flyingcheesehead
Touchdown! Greaser!
Please Don't.
(signed)
Pilots of America management, members, and right-thinking people everywhere!
Yeah, y'all just don't want all the women to flock to me.
astanley
En-Route
And, let it be known that passing south through 39 degrees, 21.124 minutes north latitude, that I saw 20 degrees F for the first time in two weeks!
If it gets much warmer, I'll have to get naked.
It was 22F in MA today. I'm wearing a T-shirt and unlined jeans. It really is warm out.
Cheers,
-Andrew
flyingcheesehead
Touchdown! Greaser!
Stopped in Winona, MS a bit ago. 52F. Jeans and T-shirt. Woohoo!
I think I might call dispatch and ask if they can leave me down here for a while.
flyingcheesehead
Touchdown! Greaser!
Stopped in Winona, MS a bit ago. 52F. Jeans and T-shirt. Woohoo!
...Which was quite a change from 6 days ago when I was between Fargo and Grand Forks, ND, it was -13F, and the truck was leaving a contrail! Unfortunately, I just dumped my camera onto the laptop and the pics didn't turn out at all.
alaskaflyer
Final Approach
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2006
- Messages
- 7,544
- Location
- Smith Valley, Nevada
- Display Name
Display name:
Alaskaflyer
Didn't read through the whole thread, but I flew my plane in December at -32F . It didn't seem to mind. It was much warmer up around 2000agl, actually was about ten above at that altitude. Common in central AK.
Worst part was fueling at that temp
Cabin heater keeps the cabin above freezing when its that cold that's about it. I fly in a military winter-weight flight suit and air force pilot mukluks, so I'm pretty toasty.
Worst part was fueling at that temp
Cabin heater keeps the cabin above freezing when its that cold that's about it. I fly in a military winter-weight flight suit and air force pilot mukluks, so I'm pretty toasty.