Cold Weather Flying in an Aeronca Champ

Flew the Aeronca Champ over to Troy Ohio to visit the Waco Museum. I had to pre heat the aircraft before I could get it running. I used a hair dryer to pre heat the engine compartment. This is a low cost and it take very little space to carry the required items to pre heat.

[@L5Rick]

Back in the '70s I used to fly a 90hp Champ out of Caldwell, ID. It was certainly my favorite airplane to fly for fun. In the winter we can get down below 0 here. So, to preheat the motor I would pull up in front of the Champ and put a dryer hose on the tail pipe of my car and the other end in the engine cowl and let the car idle for 20 minutes. That worked very well. I hand propped just like you did from the back with the tail still tied down. Thanks for letting me relive those memories again.

[@DeweyDavenport]

Thanks so much for watching. I bet that 90hp engine made that champ feel like a rocket. Since doing these videos, I get a lot of messages just like yours. Many people really enjoy reliving the memories. Thanks again.

[@MrDaviem]

Excellent video Dewey. Really enjoyed that with my morning cuppa before heading out into the workshop. Brings back a lot of memories of visiting Troy for the XFC all those years ago. Cheers, Davie.

[@DeweyDavenport]

I miss the XFC. Wish we still had big events like that.

[@MrDaviem]

@@DeweyDavenport me too brother. Need to get stateside again.

[@bentonbee1]

Thanks Dewey. I fly my Champ out of 7c5 in Iowa. Love the Champ

[@robertwolfe8680]

Great video, very enjoyable to watch.

[@sebastiangrimm5671]

A beautiful video with great explanations and great pictures! Looking forward until I can get back into a TW ... MANY Thanks Dewey, Cheers and happy landings!

[@chrismaley339]

I agree on the extra effort in the winter. When my oil is down in the 50 -55 deg range, it's tough to hand prop. I cover the cowl with 2 old sleeping bags and keep a 150 W incandescent light bulb in the engine compartment hooked to a thermostatically controlled outlet with a temp probe in the engine compartment. It keeps the temp under the cowl around 65. I really enjoy your videos. You do a great job editing and narrating. I'm looking forward to the next video!

[@jeffboatright]

Fun video, Dewey. Thanks for sharing.

[@spurgear4]

Thanks for the flight

[@johnconnor818]

Great video. I appreciate you talking your way through what you're doing while flying the airplane as if you were giving instruction. So many otherwise great aviation videos neglect this important element. I drive a bus for AA and fly a rented Champ whenever time an weather permits, and I very much enjoyed coming along for the ride with you.

[@DeweyDavenport]

Thanks so much John. I appreciate that you enjoy the ride.

[@AndrewBrenner1]

I was amazed to see how close you are to where I live. I kept looking to see if I might actually see my place out your window.

[@denverseifried3378]

Hi Dewey, really a great video. I think I might have told you, a couple of weeks ago, when you dropped over to SGH for a short visit, that my first trip to SW Ohio, by air, was probably in the late 1940's. My dad was a pre-WWII CAP trained pilot. He trained in either a Cadet or a WACO bi-plane. After he got back from the South Pacific, he probably took some private pilot training from Eddy's Flying Service at FDY. He rented airplanes from that fbo on weekends. I can still remember when he rented one of their Aeronca's, and we flew on one Sunday to Grimes Field and had breakfast at the Airport Cafe. It was so great to see this video of you in the your Champ. Thanks for the memories, as the old song, goes! I doubt if we had a radio, either.

[@willflyforfood8831]

Love those champs.

[@oldschoolcfi3833]

In some parts, where it gets really cold, they'd drain the oil after the last flight, and bring it into the cabin/camp to stay warm over night by the stove. Then in the morning, pour the warm oil back into the engine.

[@TomasAWalker53]

That's right. I was going to say it too. The 20s, 30s, 40s and so on. I was going to suggest a quilted blanket such as the kind they use for moving to add an extra layer of heat retention? They can be purchased with a heating element that, while not hot, does maintain a warm temp. Also, I wonder if a heat gun such as is used to peel paint, etc, might not add some better heat with a circuit breaker type power chord to provide some protection from a power surge? This also made me think of old time Volkswagens that had gas powered preheaters in the front trunk. One could be installed in a suitable location. You would pull the on switch, turning the glow plug on and presto!! Heat blows through simple piping aimed at the block and the engine compartment? I don't know if that is a practical idea, but I used to love being able to go out to the car before breakfast and by the time I was ready to go, it not only heat the engine in the back but also blew hot air through the defrost piping making the windshield toasty. Even with ice accumulation. There are many weather situations above freezing that can benefit from a system like that too. My first experiences with flying were in a Champ. I ought to have bought one in the 70s when I would have paid about 8,000. Sigh.

[@mikemiles3068]

Great trip my 1947 7AC CHAMP just had a bent wire in a float on the gas cap but that was back in 1969 a long time ago but I enjoyed the ride. Thanks

[@kylekendall1587]

hooray for more Champ flights! Thanks Dewey!

[@darwinhall8550]

Great flight video. I love the Waco Museum and have been there many times. Thanks for sharing.

[@Griphos]

So nice to see you up in the air again. So fun to see the Champ flying. Takes me back to my days getting my tailwheel endorsement in a Champ.

[@jdonalds2001]

That was great. Thanks for pointing out the champ controls. When the weather gets better I'm planning a champ discovery flight.

[@walterbenson5275]

Great flight,love the Aeronca Champ ( AIR NOCKER ) or ( NANNY GOAT )

[@audiehollon4292]

I've got a buddy who lives in Ottumwa, IA that has a Waco that look just like the green one in this video. I always enjoy watching your videos, Dewey. Keep them coming.

[@laurenceharrison2318]

Nice video bro you always produce the best videos. I truly enjoyed watching this 👍

[@craighwilkins1]

Neat to see another Champ. I’m a very new student with about 3 hours now & I’m learning to fly in a 47 champ lol I got a looong way to go but I’m having a blast! Thanks for sharing!

[@TheTerrypcurtin]

That's a great way to learn. I know GA guys with thousands of hours who dont know what a rudder is for. Those tail wheel skills will make you a great stick in a 787. I loved the Champ.

[@Bitclef]

Great video Dewey!

[@arlynkraft3581]

Did my solo XC in North Dakota in winter much colder then--rented the aircraft for six bucks/hour gas included so that was a few years ago--still own 85hp Champ.

[@DeweyDavenport]

Six dollars a hour was probably a bit expensive back in those days. I can't imagine a champ or cub in North Dakota during the winter months.

[@maheshnatarajan7320]

Hi Dewey, great to see you again in a video.. happy new year and wish you all the best. Cheers. Mahesh, India

[@DeweyDavenport]

Thanks Mahesh. Happy New years to you.

[@mikeherren5604]

Thx a lot Dewey. Really appreciate you doing this. How cool. Hope you’re doing good

[@DeweyDavenport]

Thanks Mike. I'm doing pretty well now. Thanks for watching

[@davidzakrzewicz707]

I took some lessons in a ‘46 Champ during cold weather many years ago. My instructor told me if I knew just where to hold my hand I could tell where the heat came into the cabin.

[@donmeier218]

We flew our champ with skis. Need a large field to make turns though

[@justincase1575]

I had a 7ac back in the 70s. Loved flying in the winter. Climbed like crazy in the dense air!

[@philfrasier127]

The 46 Champ that I soloed in 1963 had a pull knob that only gave moral support when pulled. I was wearing 3 layers.

[@camseverance7768]

Very cool, I just purchased a 59 7EC a few months ago. My first plane and I have been having a blast with it!

[@DeweyDavenport]

That's great news Cam.

[@GAFlyer]

Nice video, I also posted a video to the museum and had a blast! The museum commented and said the WACO fly-in is the 3rd weekend in September 2021. Hope to cross paths sometime.

[@toddrader1698]

It takes a little extra time to fly in OH this time of year. It’s not for the faint of heart. I flew today from 7G8 and it was cold, but well worth the time it took to get in the air.

[@lindsaylittle6535]

Love that Champ. Got my first ride in 1955 in one of them and my Dad got his license in one. Love tailwheels. Sure enjoy your videos. Always positive and fun to watch. Ex Stinson driver from MN.

[@pilot72195]

I used to help my Uncle mow out there. That's been 10 years ago now when they only had that red building and a hangar. Times they are a changing. I'll have to get back up there and check out the new place.

[@TheFlyingStampede]

I never thought about using a hair dryer for a preheat. Great tip, cheap and super light to carry in the plane. Thanks Dewey!!

[@dm12377]

Lots of memories to when I spent about half a year living outside Dayton. Flying gliders at Caesar Creek, visits to the Waco and AF museums. Good stuff.

[@DeweyDavenport]

I think it's time to come back this way

[@waynegilling6048]

I worked for a private flying school back in the early 60s and ended up with a commercial ticket , floats and skies , night and a total of 7oo hours in 3 years in 5 different Aerncoas J3 pa 11 pa12 pa 18 and colt as well as 150, 140 and 180.then on to bigger stuff . reason for the note , we trained all year round in the aeroncas Our muffler had a heat chamber ducted into the cabin just above the floor of each side. We also closed up the outside of the big vents on the front and the oil cooled vent. They were comfortable down to -30 F.

[@richardbutterfoss2353]

Love the plane. Was flying one like it … L16. When a was 15. CAP. RWB ❤🎉

[@arthurpearson3407]

Really enjoy your videos, Dewey. It is easy to see how much you really live to fly. I learned to fly in Cubs in the early 60s, so they strike a sentimental chord!😉. Good to see you back doing them.

[@grampabadger]

When I flew a Champ, there was one knob labeled 'cockpit heat', but all that was turned out to be a heat muff around the exhaust manifold and routed through the firewall. It was essentially ONLY the front pilot's left foot heat.

[@pauleyplay]

You are being generous. Coldest i have ever been Back seat in champ. J3 clipper.Tcraft vagabond. I was a little kid ! My dad lived to fly, I guess i did too.

[@romainnelseng3264]

Thanks for the ride, from an old Continental Airline pilot.

[@bruceme101]

The oil is the only thing that matters in pre-heat. I also use a hair dryer, but I point it right at the oil sump from the bottom. It also warms up the remaining block as the residual heat rises.

[@Alex_Zvada]

Super cool video! Champs are awesome!

[@oldbiker570]

Thanks Dewey! I enjoyed this. I have a hair dryer, maybe someday I get a airplane. lol

[@TheTerrypcurtin]

Been there. Cold!!!!! I am too old for it now. Moved to AZ. Now its 115 inside. Lol

[@RussellTelker]

Lot of the guys up here in MN use a popcorn maker for a heater. Puts out more heat than a hairdryer.

[@bushpilot172]

Hey Dewey great video as always. You may have heard of this before but instead of Plexus, you can use Pledge lemon enhancing polish. It works every bit as good as Plexus on airplane plexi and smells nice while you pre-flight. Also you can coat the leading edges of the wings and tail and bugs will not stick, they wipe right off after each flight. I have been using this method for over 15 years on all my aircraft. I'm not a paid spokesman.

[@yclept9]

I never had to pre-heat in cold weather, just prime a lot. If you flood it, crank it with open throttle to clear it (mags off) and start priming again. Somewhere in the middle it will start. Let it idle to heat the oil.

[@kevinmalloy2180]

Nice video! I own/fly a ‘46 7AC, learned at 40I and now fly out of VAY in NJ. (I usually preheat for 90-120 min if its in the 20s.)

[@Chris_at_Home]

They are a fun plane. I had one in the 80s. I had an electric dash heater like they use in a car. Not an STC, but hey, it's Alaska. It was mounted on the firewall.

[@multibucker]

Really enjoyable video, wonderful, thanks!

[@Andykev]

Good to see you back with another nice video... a fun flight to ride alont with you despite the cold. I love your open countryside. We are enjoying 75 degree January... in SF Bay Area... still praying for rain. Only weather excitement this week was 35 knot winds at ground level for a couple of days...and another small earthquake last week! Blue skies.

[@scotabot7826]

No offence to you Kevin, but the rest of the country is hoping that a huge earthquake will come and break California off the mainland, so it can float out to sea, and take that CRAZY BAY Pelosi, and all the other fruitcakes to somewhere out in the middle of the Pacific ocean!!!

[@Andykev]

@@scotabot7826 HA. Well that reminds me of a Sunday School story: " Genesis 18:25 Far be it from You to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right? We have at LEAST 50 good people here!

[@scotabot7826]

@@Andykev I agree with you wholeheartedly Kevin, and I realized what I had said after I hit the magic enter button. I'm just so so angry and frustrated at the God Hating so called "leaders" in Ca., that it gets the best of me some times. Please forgive me, as the Father knows my true heart.

[@redleader]

Hey Dewey...I just moved back to NorCal from Lebanon....I love my Cali...but I do miss SW OHio. Watching your vids keeps the memories alive. I was only there for 2yrs. Sorry I never got to meet you or take a ride in your bi-plane. So what's up with NetJets? Are you furloughed for covid? When will we see more jet vids?

[@DeweyDavenport]

Hey Damon, thanks for watching. We should have met up, especially in Waynesville..I could have met you at Red Stewart's. Im still with NJ. We have actually been fairly busy considering all things. The company made me take down the videos 😒. I feel all my video we very positive.

[@redleader]

@@DeweyDavenport Oh man I didnt know that about the vids! But that to me represents typical OH-HIO mentality. Sorry but I had my fill. Anywho....really like all your videos. I like the little local family "fly-ins". To me that kind of access to aviation is just one of the great many freedoms we enjoy here in America. Having lived in the EU for a few years, I can tell you GA is tough to get into and 3x the cost. And forget about Russia or China or South America, just to list a few. So it is great to see so much flying in Ohio. I hope it never dies. Glad you are still flying at NJs. Cool gig for sure. I just left my job down in ILN dispatching for one of the big freight dogs. super fun. They would love to have you fly for them anytime.

[@TheTerrypcurtin]

Long story but I flew once and the ailerons got jammed. Lucky in the neutral position. I flew it with rudder and elevator only. Funny Radio control skills made it less challenging. Mine only had rudder and power. I landed it very nervous but that Champ made it easy. That was at Falcon in Mesa Az

[@brucemckelvy9920]

Any motorcycle shop carries Plexus and generally sells it for a lot less than the aircraft suppliers.

[@ronaldmarshall4054]

Nice Video

[@alanparker7012]

I saw that N number and thought that sounds familiar. The C-172 I fly registered to Visalia Flyers is : 3558E

[@WaltBankes]

I tried find your airport on Google Maps - no luck - it didn't occur to me to search for a PLAYGROUND - :)

[@bennietipton2820]

Awesome

[@TomasAWalker53]

Isn't it less likely to have carb icing in cold dry air like it was the day you flew this mission?

[@scotabot7826]

Hey, Where did that Fairchild 24 come from? Another great video from Dewey! Love the Champ!! Thanks Man.

[@DeweyDavenport]

The Fairchild came from Canada. I flew it from Spokane to Ohio.

[@gymshoe8862]

Is there a 12v power source inside the cabin? An electric jacket would keep the pilot toasty warm even on a cold day.

[@DeweyDavenport]

No electrical at all. I guess with today technology I could bring a portable power system during my flying.

[@bentonbee1]

I liked the hair dryer ides to take along! Thanks. Do you slip airliners on landing too? Thanks Mike Townsley

[@DeweyDavenport]

I haven't had to slip any jets in my day.

[@pi.actual]

I know Plexus works but honestly, try Lemon Pledge. I've been using it for the last 25 years. Also good on leading edges, nosebowl and prop to keep the bugs from sticking in the summer plus you can get it at the grocery store. I bought a 90 hp Champ about 10 years ago and it's been joy, nothing better to unwind and unload the stress of day to day life.

[@spurgear4]

I used pledge on my motorcycles for years, smells nice too.

[@bobbylcraig]

Why don't you carry a hand-held radio?

[@markclark1634]

A little too cold to take the Pietenpol out?

[@DeweyDavenport]

It is for me. Lol

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

How fast do you have to go to make the prop windmill from a stopped prop?

[@frankwgregoryiii6347]

What’s the Dewydrome identifier

[@deeanna8448]

This was a great video! You take such good care of your airplanes! Out of curiosity, are you still doing a vegan diet? I'm just starting to transition to a mostly vegan diet.

[@looneytunes47]

IMO The Chanp n Chief are a far better airplane than the J-3 Cub. better forward visability better suspension on the mains wider cabin.and they sell for one fifth the cost of a Piper Cub.

[@gregorybrown4062]

Just how cold does it have to get for you to break out the hair dryer?

[@bobbylcraig]

Generally I think you're supposed to preheat if it's below 40 degrees F. Depends. Some people say only if it's below 0 degrees F, but owners manual probs gives best indication.

[@gregorybrown4062]

@@bobbylcraig Below 40? So living in Las Vegas I guess I won't ever have to get one

[@slowsteve3497]

Holy cr*p. I thought you’d set your plane on fire.

[@SVSky]

Nice basic, simple plane.

[@choppergirl]

Good lord, isn't this airplane old as time.