It's been 18 days since I was up in the KR and I couldn't take it any longer. I drove to the airport this afternoon even though it was 18*F outside with winds out of the NW at 10 to 12 mph.
I got to the hangar and the lock was frozen shut. After a bit of work with some heat I got it open but thinking maybe it's a bit cold to fly. I had just finished the annual so just a quick preflight was in order. I got there too late to preheat but thought there was a good chance it would start anyway. Wrong! I think I flooded the engine and ended up running the battery rather low. I pushed it back in the hangar and put my homemade preheater in place. I went to the terminal to warm up for about 20 minutes. I came back out, jumped in without putting on the belts or anything to see if it would start. YEEEE HAAAAA , it fired right up. I belted up , got on my headset, etc. as I did a low rpm warmup. Once the oil pressure guage came off the max peg I started to taxi out to the ramp. After a good warmup I managed to get in about eight tenths of an hour with a short flight around the area and three landings to a full stop. Man, I've got to get some cabin heat in that little bird if the weather doesn't warm up!!!!! The only good thing I can say about the cold air is I get an extra 5+mph indicated airspeed and 200+ feet per minute better climb. You KR flyers in the warmer climates have no excuse not to be out there flying. Get to it...... Larry Flesner
