How fast does the skin of the airplane cool to surrounding temperatures?

Jim Macklin wrote:

Just remember the snow on the wing does not blow off during
take-off. Moderate snow is snow with the visibility reduced
to not less than 1/2 mile, which is low IFR.

It will if it is freshly fallen snow on a cold wing. Often, it will
blow off just taxing in the wind. I've lost half of the snow on the
wing just taxiing to the pumps. The rest is easily brushed off if it is
fairly fresh and hasn't yet seen above freezing temps.

I'm not recommending using the takeoff as a snow removal technique, but
fresh snow will blow off once a little wind gets on it. I do us this
technique often with my cars and it works great. :-)

Matt

I'm not recommending using the takeoff as a snow removal technique, but fresh snow will blow off once a little wind gets on it. I do us this technique often with my cars and it works great. :-)

My experience (with watching snow blow off cars) is that it blows off
only from the very top surface, so takes quite a while to blow off
completely. Much more than a takeoff run - maybe a trip to my aunt's.

Jose
--
"There are 3 secrets to the perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows
what they are." - (mike).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Jose wrote:
I'm not recommending using the takeoff as a snow removal technique,
but fresh snow will blow off once a little wind gets on it. I do us
this technique often with my cars and it works great. :-)


My experience (with watching snow blow off cars) is that it blows off
only from the very top surface, so takes quite a while to blow off
completely. Much more than a takeoff run - maybe a trip to my aunt's.

Yes, it depends a lot on the type of snow, temperature and shape of the
car. Wet snow will not blow off to any significant degree. Dry snow on
a cold surface will blow off almost completely. Cars don't have good
airflow around them with a lot of stagnation points that trap snow.
Airplane wings don't have such issues and the airflow is fairly uniform
over them.

If I have dry snow on the wings, I generally taxi a ways to see how much
blows off. Then I clean off the remains by hand. Some days there is
nothing left to sweep off and some days it is all left. :-(


Matt