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Old December 8th 06, 06:19 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
M[_1_]
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Default How fast does the skin of the airplane cool to surrounding temperatures?


The NASA online icing course addressed part of this question:

http://aircrafticing.grc.nasa.gov/courses.html


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.

--
Peter