Getting Ready for Cooler Weather Flying: What RC Pilots Should Check

The hot summer flying days are beginning to disappear; the days are getting shorter, and before long we’ll be reaching for a jacket before heading to the flying field.

That doesn’t mean flying season is over.

In fact, some of the nicest RC flying days of the year can happen during the fall. Cooler air, comfortable afternoons, and those crisp, clear days can make for some great time at the field. But cooler temperatures also bring a few changes that both the pilot and the airplane need to be ready for.

A little preparation now can keep you flying comfortably and safely well into the cooler months.

Your LiPo Batteries Notice the Cold Too

Electric flyers should pay particular attention to their batteries as temperatures begin to fall.

Lithium-polymer batteries don’t perform as well when they’re cold. Internal resistance increases, and the battery may not deliver power as effectively as it does on a warm summer afternoon. You may notice less punch, reduced performance, or shorter flight times.

That doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with the battery. It may simply be cold.

Try to keep your flight batteries reasonably warm before flying. Instead of leaving them on a cold table or in a cold vehicle, keep them somewhere protected until you’re ready to use them.

And don’t try to heat them aggressively. We’re talking about keeping them comfortably warm, not cooking them.

As always, monitor your flight times and don’t push a battery farther than you normally would just because you’re trying to squeeze in one more circuit.

If you’re standing at the flight line thinking, “Boy, it’s colder than I thought,” your batteries are probably thinking the same thing.

Give Glow and Gas Engines a Little Attention

Cooler weather can affect fuel-powered models too.

Changes in temperature and air density can affect engine operation and tuning. An engine that ran perfectly on a hot August afternoon may need a small adjustment on a crisp October morning.

Don’t assume last summer’s needle setting is automatically going to be perfect.

Let the engine warm up properly and listen to how it’s running. Check the transition from idle to full throttle, and make sure the engine runs reliably before committing the airplane to the air.

This is especially important if the model hasn’t flown for several weeks.

A few extra minutes on the ground beats troubleshooting an engine while the airplane is headed toward the cornfield.

Check the Airframe

Temperature changes can affect the airplane itself.

Covering that was tight during the summer may begin showing wrinkles or loose areas as temperatures change. Usually that’s more cosmetic than dangerous, but it’s still worth checking.

While you’re at it, check hinges, control horns, clevises, pushrods, and other linkages.

Plastic parts can become less flexible in colder temperatures, particularly as the weather gets genuinely cold. Something that survived a bump without complaint in July might not be quite as forgiving on a cold morning later in the year.

Give the airplane the same careful preflight inspection you always should, but pay a little extra attention to anything that moves, flexes, or carries a load.

Don’t Forget the Landing Gear

Fall mornings can bring dew, frost, and wet grass.

That can change how an airplane handles on the ground, especially models with smaller wheels.

Wet grass creates more resistance, and soft ground can grab a wheel surprisingly quickly. Taildraggers can be especially entertaining when the runway conditions aren’t what you expected.

Before takeoff, check the runway rather than assuming it feels the same as it did in the summer.

And remember our discussion about tip-overs: if the airplane noses over and the propeller touches the ground, shut it down and inspect it before flying again.

Check Your Radio Equipment

Your transmitter deserves some attention too.

Make sure the transmitter battery is fully charged before heading to the field. Cold temperatures can affect battery performance, and there’s no reason to start the day with a marginal charge.

If you use rechargeable receiver batteries in glow or gas models, give those the same consideration.

Also take a quick look at your switches, gimbals, and controls. Everything should move freely and normally.

Cold weather isn’t the time to discover that something in your radio equipment isn’t behaving quite the way it should.

Cold Fingers Count Too

We spend a lot of time thinking about the airplane, but another important part of the control system is the pilot.

The pilot.

Cold fingers don’t move transmitter sticks quite as well as warm ones.

Gloves can help, but heavy gloves can also interfere with your ability to feel and move the sticks. If you fly with gloves, make sure you can operate every switch and control comfortably before launching the airplane.

Some pilots use fingerless gloves, hand warmers, or transmitter mitts. Whatever works for you is fine as long as you maintain full control of the transmitter.

If your hands are getting so cold that you’re losing dexterity, that’s probably a good indication that it’s time to land and warm up.

The airplane may be willing to keep going.

Your fingers get a vote too.

Watch That Lower Sun

One of the less obvious changes during fall flying has nothing to do with temperature.

The sun gets lower in the sky.

A flying area that caused no visibility problems during the summer may suddenly put the sun directly in an uncomfortable part of your field of view.

Before taking off, pay attention to where the sun is located and think about where you’ll be flying your pattern.

Sunglasses and a hat with a brim can help, but the best solution is simply not flying directly into the sun.

Losing sight of an airplane for even a second or two can be much longer than it sounds.

Remember the Shorter Days

Those long summer evenings don’t last forever.

As we move farther into fall, daylight disappears surprisingly quickly. A late-afternoon flying session can turn into dusk before you realize it.

Keep an eye on the time and don’t let “one more flight” put you in a situation where you’re trying to land an airplane that has suddenly become difficult to see.

Unless, of course, you brought the Night Radian.

Then we may have an entirely different article.

Cooler Weather Doesn’t Mean Flying Season Is Over

It’s easy to think of summer as RC flying season, but fall can offer some of the best flying weather of the year.

The key is recognizing that conditions have changed.

Keep your batteries warm, pay attention to your engine tuning, inspect the airplane, watch the runway conditions, keep yourself comfortable, and remember that both daylight and temperature can disappear faster than expected.

A little preparation can turn a chilly fall afternoon into a great day of flying.

And considering what those hot summer days at the field were like, some of us may actually welcome putting on a jacket.

So charge those batteries, grab a sweatshirt, and head to the field.

Just don’t forget that the airplane isn’t the only thing that needs to stay warm.

Happy and safe flying from the York Area Radio Control Club!