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Frost Formation Question

R

rdockery_3

Member
Until I joined the RV ranks I didn't have to worry about this because the club 172 that I flew was in a hangar but I'm under a shade hangar on the wait list for a T-hangar with my RV 12. I am planning on a sunrise departure here in a couple days and I'm wondering if I'll have to deal with frost. I know being under the shade hangar will help some but I'm not sure if that will keep it from forming or not. It's forecasted to be right at freezing the morning I leave an the dew point is supposed to be about 22 degrees F. If some of you more experienced owners could chime in on your experience with frost that would be great. Thanks for any help.
 
Typically frost only forms when dew point is close to the same as the temp and dew forms to freeze. Since you have a fairly dry morning predicted with a 22f dew point, dew should not form. Also if under a shade, you should not see dew or frost. Notice dew and frost is always on the exposed top surface. i.e rooftops, car tops, lawns and such.
 
I'm in Minnesota where we run into a lot of frost, inside or outside of hangars. Main thing is to make sure that absolutely all frost is off the top of the wings and bottom of the stabilator (in some situations thick frost can form on just the lower surface). Have a jug of pink RV-type propylene glycol antifreeze (not automotive antifreeze with ethylene glycol) on hand to wash it off if you're in a hurry, but make sure it's all gone.
 
Hot water can also run into places & freeze, e.g. aft edges of flight controls, changing their balance & stability.
 
CTCole said:
Have a jug of pink RV-type propylene glycol antifreeze (not automotive antifreeze with ethylene glycol) on hand to wash it off if you're in a hurry, but make sure it's all gone.
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I have had to deal with frost many times while traveling, often in the dark. Not fun. Makes you grateful for having a low-wing, at least.

I’m also a fan of the pink recreational vehicle stuff applied with a sprayer. If there’s any sun warmth at all available, pull it into the sunlight and position it to get as much sun as possible on the upper surfaces while you work on it.

If it’s very cold, frost etc. can be quite hard to remove as it may keep re-freezing. A bunch of old beach towels may come in handy. Persevere and do not accept anything but clean, dry surfaces.

Also beware walking around an aircraft during the de-icing process, as the slip and fall risk can be high. Ask me how I know. 😬

Very interested in hearing others’ techniques!
 
Get a few cans of “windshield deice” spray. It would take a can to de-frost a Grumman tiger, so same for the RV-X clan…
 
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