On Fri, 8 Dec 2006 10:18:23 -0500, "Peter R."
wrote:

A question for those of you more adept at chemistry/physics than I: How
fast does the aluminum skin of the standard single engine GA aircraft take
to cool to surrounding air temperatures? For example, how long would it
take for the skin to cool from a heated hangar at 65 degrees F to outside
air at 20 degrees F?

This is my first winter where my airplane sits at my destination airport
(Buffalo, NY) all week in a heated hangar. The problem I just inherited
is that if I desire to depart during a lake effect snowfall event, falling
snow could melt on the wings and fuselage and then turn to ice.

The wings and tail will very quickly go to ambient air temperature, I
would guess in 1-2 minutes.

I keep my plane in a 55deg heated hangar, and have pulled it outside,
and departed during a few light snows. I have not yet had a problem
with the 'warm' wings melting the snow and causing ice droplets.

Unless the flakes are very wet/heavy, I doubt you really need to worry
about this scenario. Of course, if the flakes are wet/heavy, then
perhaps it is not a good day for flying anyway...