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12-23-2012, 06:57 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
Posts: 5,862
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Winter Flying In The RV-12
Just thought I would start a thread about cold weather flying for those of you pounding (pulling  ) rivets to give you some encouragement.
Yesterday was 25f and I flew 2 missions. One in the morning and one in the evening for a total of 4 hours. The hot water heat is amazing after installing the John BenderBaffel a few years ago. It restricts the airflow to allow the water temp (cylinder head temp) to remain around 210f . The heater works incredibly well and I have flown in -7f temps very comfortably.
After a big snow storm a few days ago, yesterday was a weird weather day. Temps at 3,000' were 55f.  Making all my cold weather prep a waste of time.
Temps down low were in the 30's. It is amazing how responsive and smooth the air is when it is this cold. The air is so thick and NO BUGS!
I had to get use to bleeding off airspeed in the pattern so I didn't float for a mile down the runway. A little slipping and I hit the numbers. The air is really thick in ground effect.
A very nice day for flying.... after shoveling a 3' snow drift away from the hangar door.
Keep up the work! Get those -12's in the air! Good times await!
__________________
RV-7 : In the hangar
RV-10 : In the hangar
RV-12 : Built and sold
RV-44 : 4 place helicopter on order.
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12-23-2012, 07:19 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: La Feria Texas
Posts: 3,822
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I am getting the idea that a 12 only works for local flights only. Never has anyone actually done a cross country and came to visit me 
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12-23-2012, 07:23 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
Posts: 5,862
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonFromTX
I am getting the idea that a 12 only works for local flights only. Never has anyone actually done a cross country and came to visit me 
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Do you have a spare room? I might come down for the winter. 
__________________
RV-7 : In the hangar
RV-10 : In the hangar
RV-12 : Built and sold
RV-44 : 4 place helicopter on order.
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12-23-2012, 07:31 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Jesup, Iowa
Posts: 1,658
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Thanks Larry - -
yes the 'Heater-Damper-Door' system does work very well. I just don't like getting out when it is below about 25 degrees. Yes, I have experienced the temp differences also. Sometime much warmer at ALT if a southerly breeze. Some colder days, visibility is better. I don't think I have missed an entire month even thru snowy, cold spells.
John Bender
487 hours
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12-23-2012, 07:46 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
Posts: 5,862
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JBPILOT
yes the 'Heater-Damper-Door' system does work very well. I just don't like getting out when it is below about 25 degrees. Yes, I have experienced the temp differences also. Sometime much warmer at ALT if a southerly breeze. Some colder days, visibility is better. I don't think I have missed an entire month even thru snowy, cold spells.
John Bender
487 hours
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What's very nice about the "Bender Baffle" is it is adjustable in flight. Taking off temps were 25f, at altitude is was 55f. If the baffle was not adjustable I would have had temps too hot. Nice work John!
__________________
RV-7 : In the hangar
RV-10 : In the hangar
RV-12 : Built and sold
RV-44 : 4 place helicopter on order.
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12-23-2012, 08:58 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Ellsworth, ME
Posts: 842
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Cold flying
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geico266
What's very nice about the "Bender Baffle" is it is adjustable in flight. Taking off temps were 25f, at altitude is was 55f. If the baffle was not adjustable I would have had temps too hot. Nice work John!
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Larry I agree the baffle is very nice to adj in flight and works nice. Dave Farmer(aka Plowboy) helped with my mod.
I also installed a shutter in front of the oil cooler allowing inflight adjustment also. The oat was -1 and flying without a coat.
I can really fine tune the temp and cabin heat as needed. Warm up in a few min and then keeping the temps in the range as needed
Everyone have a happy holiday 
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12-23-2012, 09:23 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Jesup, Iowa
Posts: 1,658
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Hey Dave - -
I can certainly see how the oil door air control would work same as the Heater Damper Door. Do you find you need to adjust it much ? I still am very happy with the oil therm, and it works well year around. I installed the 205 degree Thermostasis, and I have no moisture in my system. It really speeds up warm-up time. Even works well in the summer. If it is 80 - 90 degrees air temp, it still cuts the time to get to 122 degrees. I also installed the Reiff Pre-Heat, and our airport does not charge us for small amounts of electrical usage, so we plug ours in all the time during the winter. My entire engine compartment is about 90 - 95 all the time. That helps with moisture also for sure.
John Bender
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12-23-2012, 10:34 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Wilmington,Pa.
Posts: 5
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Radiator Baffle
Larry, Where do I get info on the John Bender winter baffle?
Dale Walker
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12-23-2012, 11:02 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: La Feria Texas
Posts: 3,822
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Got 2 spare rooms! Leave your jacket at home, 78 now, will make 85 today, but I have air conditioning. Save some baggage room, orange and grapefruit trees are loaded with ripe fruit!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geico266
Do you have a spare room? I might come down for the winter. 
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12-23-2012, 11:16 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Ellsworth, ME
Posts: 842
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dale Walker
Larry, Where do I get info on the John Bender winter baffle?
Dale Walker
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Dale, Here is a link for the mod for the radator - http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ight=Real+Heat
John, I had the oil temp bypass on the Rotax before I installed it in my 12, but I chose not to use it since my RV12 EAB was going to weight in a little heaver than the standard ELSA version.
Shutter works great, I don't need to regulate it much - fully closed for warm up, then partially open for climb out, and then a slight adj during flight. There seams to be plenty of room to adj the temps in flight.
I will most likely remove it when we hit spring and summer temps.
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