Cold weather flying

Eos630 · Jan 30, 2014

I do know what my manual says. What's the coldest temp you've flown, or dare to fly in?

EDIT: I should add I hovered a bit once very briefly in the low teens F.

ladykate · Jan 30, 2014

Zero (-18 C) I could only fly for about three minutes and the -20 F wind chill had my fingers so stiff I was worried about control. Brought it back and sat in the truck with the heater on full until the sting went away. The airplane flew well - and the camera worked well. They weren't cold soaked - I brought them to the field in a box inside the truck. Did the dance and fired it up and flew it - then ran home like a little girl.

iResq · Jan 30, 2014

It will go through batteries and don't be surprised to get low voltage warnings when doing strong ascents.

brandon1515 · Jan 30, 2014

14F.
Like someone else mentioned on here, I taped up the air inlets to try keeping things warm(er).

gbshovel · Jan 30, 2014

The biggest worry is if you hit something say goodbye to the shell, it becomes very brittle in low temps.
I know this from experience.

Eos630 · Jan 30, 2014

gbshovel said:
... it becomes very brittle in low temps.
I know this from experience.

Well, how low WAS the temp in that experience?

hjscm · Jan 30, 2014

i tried xmas morning in -9f but there was moister in the air and the leading edges of props developed ice and it would not lift off. waited till about 930 and it was -3f with sun out and it flew. i did not fly long though.

lkptrex · Jan 30, 2014

Well living in Buffalo its always a little cold in the winter...Lately its been right around 0+-. I had my Phantom out the other day 5 degrees f. with 10 mph wind. I was filming some ice hockey on a pond. The wind pushed me into some tiny thin branches I was about 5 feet of the ground. I had on vision props...well you can guess what happened..the one prop went from 9 inches to about 4. Sheered off both sides of the blades like the branch was made of steel. Nothing else broke i was lucky. Back to the original props till some CF Visions come in. Looking forward to the CF and nervouse all at the same time.

Any ways I did not close off my vent holes and I did get about 12 Minutes on a 2500 Hyperion batt. Yes the Batt red light comes when you ascend hard. No worries though. All in all I have not hade any issues. I have had at least 15 flights with temps between 0 and 30 degrees.

vrso2 · Jan 30, 2014

im gettimg about 8 min unti first warning.

v1.1
2200mAh Phantom battery
V2 9'' props
FPV
GoPro3+
zenmuse gimbal

gbshovel · Jan 30, 2014

Eos630 said:
gbshovel said:

... it becomes very brittle in low temps.
I know this from experience.

Click to expand...

Well, how low WAS the temp in that experience?

It was about 14F , I just came down from High altitude and was on low battery and tried to land about 30 yards away from me it clipped a branch on a tree. It cracked the housing around one of the motors.

reALIGNed · Jan 30, 2014

I highly recommend one of these, I fly my helicopters with it along with the optional heater, and I can last all day. My buddies use it too. The whole combo cost me about $35.00.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... ransmitter

Dtacmed · Jan 30, 2014

7 degrees Last week. Very short flight times. Lipos hate cold. I keep my batteries inside and not in my shop during cold weather in a Lipo "charging sack"