I have flown my 912 xtra Titan with ground temperature as cold as
-17C (0F). My friend flies a 912s Bush Caddy. Mine has an oil thermostat. I am on wheel-skis, he is on skis.
We pre-heat the engine for 15 to 20 minutes before firing up the engine. We use full synthetic oil (Amzoil 5W40) that stays more fluid in very cold weather, as compared to Shell semi-synthetic that we use at summer time
If you have access to elecricity, then you must use the kit that Kimberly suggest, assuming of course that you have a 912.
As for my friend and myself, since we don't have access to power at winter time, we use a propane gaz furnace with a small 12volt fan and a isolated 4 inches laundry dryer hose that brings very hot air to the engine. The engine is wrapped with an insulated sheet. (Plans and pictures available for anyone interested. Just let me know)
Properly pre-heated, 912 with spark plug gap at minimum, fires-up instantly.
Good cabin heating is the second factor to fun winter flying.
I personnaly use a Tom Dunlapp heater fixed over the thank. It has 2 outlets so that one 2 inches flexible hose brings hot air behind front seat, and the second one next to the left rudder pedal. Works very well.
Denys
--- In Titanaircraft@yahoogroups.com, Jim Covington <jim@...> wrote:
>
> You can install an oil thermostat that bypasses the cooler until the oil
> heats up. It doesn't remove the need for preheat, but can eliminate the
> start/stop cycle that Kimberly mentioned. It also allows you to fly in
> colder weather before you start having to cover the oil cooler.
>
> It's non-$tandard and you have you design the layout & installation
> yourself.
>
>
>
> Kimberly Panos wrote:
> >
> >
> > André,
> >
> > I've started and flown both the 912S and Jabirus in critically cold
> > weather, and they both start equally as well, but it isn't whether or
> > not they start, it is how much damage you are doing until the oil is
> > fluid enough to lubricate pistons. The Jabiru is more stable on oil
> > pressure on startup because all of the oil stays in the engine. The
> > Rotax has to draw the oil from the oil tank and through the oil cooler
> > before getting to the oil pump, then gets pressurized to feed the
> > engine. This usually requires shutting down and restarting the engine
> > several times to generate enough heat-soak so the oil will return to
> > the oil tank so you don't starve the engine for oil for any length of
> > time. Another problem with cold oil is that you run the risk of
> > spinning crankshaft main bearings in either engine, but the Rotax has
> > roller rod bearings to withstand the high continuous RPM's it must endure.
> >
> > In any case, you want to pre-heat any engine to some extent. We use a
> > simple plastic-cased space heater for our 3300 that easily bungies to
> > the Titan motormount and blows directly on the oil pan. The engine is
> > nicely heated by the time we pre-flight and finish doing 'stuff' to
> > get ready to roll the airplane out. The Rotax requires a regular
> > engine heater kit that bonds one heating element to the bottom of the
> > case by the drain sump return line, and the other is a band that goes
> > around the oil tank to heat the oil there.
> >
> > --Kimberly
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: girarda11
> > To: Titanaircraft@yahoogroups.com
> > <mailto:Titanaircraft%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 5:38 AM
> > Subject: [Titanaircraft] Flying in cold weather
> >
> > I have tried a Tornado 2 for the first time yesterday and I was
> > extremely impressed. It flies very well and is surprisingly
> > comfortable considering the size of the front cockpit. As I almost
> > always fly alone, tbe size of the back cockpit will only be relevant
> > as luggage space.
> >
> > As I live in a place where the winter is cold and there is a lot of
> > snow, I have a few questions related to the use of the Tornado during
> > the winter:
> >
> > 1) What is the best engine for flying in the winter: the Jabiru 2200
> > or the Rotax 912? In particular, I am wondering if any of them is
> > likely to start well without preheating?
> >
> > 2) I would like to fit wheel-skis in the winter. Is there any problem
> > using skis on the Jabiru. In particular, based on the previous
> > discussion about direct steering vs spring steering, is spring
> > steering compatible with ski use?
> >
> > 3) What is the best way to have cabin heat?
> >
> > André
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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