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The following article was published in the December 2005 issue of Ultralight Flying Magazine.

Winter is a Great Time to Fly

So many aviators in general, and open cockpit flyers (like us trikers) in particular, pack our wings away as soon as Old Man Winter arrives. What a shame. Winter can provide some of the most rewarding flights for hardy souls willing to brave the cold. For those living in the Mid-Atlantic region Old Man Winter is a pussy cat – do not let him scare you away. Let’s look at some of the great reasons for taking to the skies on those chilly days, good places to do it, and some tips on making yourself more comfortable.

So, why fly in the winter?

Performance tops the list. Those of you who have flown during the colder months recognize the difference immediately in the way your aircraft handles – the wing is crisp and precise while the engine operates at peak efficiency; a great combination. Our trikes leap off the ground, climb like rockets, and turn on a dime during the frosty, dry winter days. The fuel flow goes from 3.3 gph down to 2.5 or less, making a cheap ride even cheaper. Ground School 101 teaches us that denser air is better– winter flying gives us the best air – cold and dry versus hot and humid.

A very close second is Visibility. Because the air is so much dryer than the humid summer days the visibility on flyable days is routinely 20-30 miles or more under crystal blue skies. Granted, there are not as many flying days during the winter as in the summer, but the ones we do get tend to be a lot prettier. The absence of foliage also enhances visibility. While the countryside is still quite green, the foliage is much less dense and casts a familiar landscape in an entirely new light. In many ways, it is like having two different locations to explore – a summer and winter one.

Reduced thermal and thunderstorm activity is the third benefit of the cooler, drier air. The Virginia summers can produce afternoon thunderstorms and the thermals can kick pretty hard through the middle of the day. Consequently, flying is best in the morning and evening. But in the winter the thermals are much less active and thunderstorms almost non-existent, so light aircraft can comfortably fly during the afternoon. Additionally, it is easier to climb above the bumps. Instead of climbing to 5500+ AGL required to clear the chop in the summer, 2500 AGL is usually sufficient. And with the winter performance boost the climb to smoother air is much faster. While flying out of our home airport, Lynchburg Regional (KLYH), we reach pattern altitude by mid-field and frequently climb out of the turbulence by the time we get to the end of the 5800’ runway.

I guess we need to be careful how hard we blow the winter flying horn because one of the pleasures of flying during the cooler months is less traffic. Virginia is a very aviation friendly part of the world and when the fair weather hits the airports can get pretty busy. It is a nice change of pace when the traffic dies down. For this reason those of you who have not explored flying into tower controlled fields, winter is the time. Since the traffic flow is lighter take advantage of winter to stretch your skills to include controlled airspace. Our local Class D, Lynchburg Regional, is graced with very friendly and helpful controllers. Being comfortable flying into these fields opens up a lot of additional airspace that is otherwise closed to you. It will also make you a better pilot.

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So, why fly in the winter?

Send mail to terri@precisionwindsports.com with questions or comments about this web site.Last modified: 01/01/09

Send mail to terri@precisionwindsports.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 01/01/09