Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve lived and worked in arctic conditions but I’ve learned that it doesn’t take extreme weather to experience the cognitive decline from exposure. I might look silly doing my preflight in a snowsuit when there’s no snow on the ground but as long as I’m comfortable, my mind stays sharp. Layers come off and go back on again as my physical activity ebbs and flows. Fortunately, I didn’t learn this the hard way. I learned it from the Norwegians who say “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. Wonderful airplane you’ve got there.
Thanks for sharing. Not many of us are flying these planes these days, so most CFIs aren't even aware of these conditions, but what you describe is so true. I used to fly my Acrosport II throughout the Winter. Here in Eastern Virginia, it doesn't get that cold, but I found my personal threshold of pain to come at 40 degrees F on the ground. Previously, I had flown down to 24 degrees F. At this temperature, my muscles were so tense I had to struggle to get them to respond to the need to fly the airplane. There was also mental fatigue. Anyone who has ever been up in a deer stand in single-digit temperatures knows that you don't function very well shivering. When you take that same feeling (even without shivering) and try to precisely maneuver an airplane that needs all your attention and dexterity during landing, the potential for an accident is extremely high. Even without the issue of winds, when it is that cold the air is super dense and the airplane does not want to slow down or settle through the ground effect. I fly at the lowest speed in my final approach speed window which is 70 MPH. If I did that in the summertime the landing could be recorded on a Richter Scale. I might have a few more biplane days left, but the RV-6 is definitely more comfortable with its heater. I used to fly a Great Lakes and it had a fantastic heater so we could fly it year-round. Good recovery on the ground loop. It almost looked under control. Take care and be safe.
Thanks for the video. I agot my tail wheel certification exactly 1 year and 7 days from the time of this comment. i have about 300 hours of tricycle gear flying about 20 hours of gliders and about 22 hours in my JC3 Cub. My plane has not been started since February 15, 2022 (today is February 22, 2023) and I've been working on the plane every time I get a chance in ordere to help my certified mechanic finish his work so I can fly again. The Cub only had minor problems but between the sniggling problems and Tennessee weather the opportunity to fly it and now finishing the Annual is a major block. I'm optimistic though and am pretty sure I'll get to fly it again. Sometimes I wonder though. I really liked the placement of your camera since it was a good gauge as to the action of the tail wheel. That last landing was close to perfect in your three-point landing. I know it got away from you slightly but you got down ans as you said you didn't hurt anything.
What was your approach speed? It seems like it was fast on the first two and better on the last one in the grass. Glad everything worked out! Stay safe.
Well the headset is easy, it's a Sigtronics. The cap is a black leather summer flying helmet. I can't remember where it came from, and couldn't find it with a short Google search using those terms. I have had both the helmet and goggles for around 10 years, neither have any makers marks. The goggles are gray tinted UV proof plastic safety glass. There were LOTS of different companies still selling those in the Google search. Good luck with your search!!!!
@@kennethsteenrod Thanks for your reply. This plane reminds me of the Starduster 2.. both beautiful airplanes. Love the turtle-decks. Definitely looks like a handful!
The issues on the landings primarily started with the hypothermia and not being able to actually understand that errors were compounding, such as the increasingly tighter patterns causing destabilized approaches which resulted in too much speed on touchdown. Adding temperatures into personal minimums, as well as using personal minimums for each aircraft I fly, will keep this issue from happening.
@@kennethsteenrod I appreciate the response.. I too have felt the effects.. one time deriving a Stinson 108 with the heat disconnected over Chicago.. I was so cold, I didn’t think my legs would work. Another time in a Baby Lakes Biplane from NY to Vegas over 6 days.. open cockpit, landing every 2 hours..
