TeaSea
January 9th, 2010, 08:28
Having gotten my PPL in Florida, I haven't had a lot of experience with ice -- until today. My IFR instructor and I took off to make some approaches into Lakeland. We had filed IFR because of conditions (although we were still in VMC) and opened the plan on the ground.
After getting up to 1000 feet I checked in with Tampa, who gave me my first vector into Lakeland, and directed me to 2000. As I made the turn we noticed the windscreen immediately ice (well, you can't see through it, can you?). I checked my side and thought I could see a sheen of ice on the wingtip, which my instructor seconded on his side.
Not having any de-icing kit, we decided discretion was the better part of valor, contacted Tampa, cancelled IFR, and turned back to my home airstrip. Final was little difficult since I could only see through the little hole the defroster made, but the landing was uneventful.
We were in the air less than 8 minutes.
When I got the plane to the hanger we got out and discovered at least 1/8 inch on all the leading edge surfaces....it formed that fast.
Temps were 35 F at field level (153 MSL). If you account for -3 degree/1000 feet with a standard gradient, then we hit freezing at a little over 1100 feet MSL -- which was when the ice started to form. You know this intellectually, but it's startling to actually observe it.
Gave me some respect for that particular situation. Best day training I've had in a bit, even if we did have to cut it short.:icon29:
After getting up to 1000 feet I checked in with Tampa, who gave me my first vector into Lakeland, and directed me to 2000. As I made the turn we noticed the windscreen immediately ice (well, you can't see through it, can you?). I checked my side and thought I could see a sheen of ice on the wingtip, which my instructor seconded on his side.
Not having any de-icing kit, we decided discretion was the better part of valor, contacted Tampa, cancelled IFR, and turned back to my home airstrip. Final was little difficult since I could only see through the little hole the defroster made, but the landing was uneventful.
We were in the air less than 8 minutes.
When I got the plane to the hanger we got out and discovered at least 1/8 inch on all the leading edge surfaces....it formed that fast.
Temps were 35 F at field level (153 MSL). If you account for -3 degree/1000 feet with a standard gradient, then we hit freezing at a little over 1100 feet MSL -- which was when the ice started to form. You know this intellectually, but it's startling to actually observe it.
Gave me some respect for that particular situation. Best day training I've had in a bit, even if we did have to cut it short.:icon29: