This will be my first winter owning a plane.
So I already know and understand about pre-heating the engine and cabin to warm everything up. My plan is to keep her wrapped up with an engine, wing, wind screen and tail covers, and plug her in overnight with the Reiff system and a little space heater inside the cabin. But i was wondering, does anyone ever put electric blankets on the wings under the covers? Seams that it would keep frost off but maybe put moisture in??? I know you wouldn't want them on there all the time, they would melt any snow and just cause freezing problems.

Thanks for any replies.

I would imagine the wattage draw to heat the wings would be expensive! I have never hear of anyone doing this. It is amazing how fast frost will melt it in the sun with dark covers even in the cold.

I've never had frost between my covers and wings. Only on top of the covers. Is it normal for it to form between?

Never heard of that before but I'm not from Alaska.

I'd be real paranoid about putting an electric blanket on a fuel tank, which is essentially what you are talking about. Especially with vented gas caps such as a Maule uses.

If I was up there and flew I'd be looking for a hangar. I know a lot of people keep their planes outside but I don't think I'd want to do that.

Also,

Welcome to the forum!

88Echo wrote:This will be my first winter owning a plane.
But i was wondering, does anyone ever put electric blankets on the wings under the covers? Seams that it would keep frost off but maybe put moisture in??? I know you wouldn't want them on there all the time, they would melt any snow and just cause freezing problems.

Thanks for any replies.

Welcome 88Echo,
Lived and flew a lot of years out in Western AK (Nome region) and negative on the blankets. Generally you wont see frost between the wing and the covers. There can be a problem if the wing covers are saturated (wet) and left on when it freezes hard freezing them to the wing.

I did not leave wing covers on all the time and put them on the afternoon before i was going to fly, first removing as much frost/snow beforehand. once the covers are on it would trap enough warmth from the light to deice what was left, even on very cold days, though i started cutting off my trips at -20 unless it was an emergency.

my 2 cents

Chris

Thanks.


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