Text Box: “I will go some other time.” Do you say that to yourself about flying, so much that you never seem to make it to the airport? One of the best ways to keep flying is to set a goal toward another rating or skill. Whether it be a tailwheel transition, moving up to a complex aircraft, aerobatics, an Instrument or Commercial Rating or to fulfill Wings Proficiency requirements, any of the above will not only keep you current but provide you with new skills. Maybe the above is not what you have in mind. How about…… Give a friend or neighbor a ride Take aerial pictures of your neighborhood and give the pictures away for Christmas Go to the Air Museum in Rantoul, IL or Kalamazoo, MI Fly to lunch ! (refer to last month’s newsletter for spots) Shoot some instrument approaches with a safety pilot Ask Santa for a handheld GPS and fly someplace new Be in flight while watching the sun rise or sun set (most would prefer the latter) Go for it. Once you are in the air, you will not want to be doing anything else! Text Box: A Reason To Fly Text Box: December 2003 Text Box: Blueskyaero.com 815-941-0063 Text Box: Littlefield Aero Club Blue Sky Aero, Inc. 9980 N. Rt. 47 Morris, IL Text Box: Volume 1, Issue 5 Text Box: Why You Need To Preheat In cold weather, oil is partially congealed and turning the engines is difficult for the starter. There is a tendency to over prime which results in washed-down cylinder walls and possible scouring of the walls. This also results in poor compression and, consequently, harder starting. Sometimes aircraft fires have been started by over prime, when the engine fires and the exhaust system contains raw fuel. Other fires are caused by backfires through the carburetor. Remember, if you notice smoke during engine start KEEP CRANKING with the mixture lean and fuel off to draw the fire through the engine. Left to burn, the plane may suffer major damage. Another cold start problem that plagues an un-preheated engine is icing over the spark plug electrodes. This happens when an engine only fires a few revolutions and then quits. Engines can quit during prolonged idling because sufficient heat is not produced to keep the plugs from fouling out. Engines which quit under these circumstances are frequently found to have iced-over plugs. After the engine starts, use of carburetor heat may assist in fuel vaporization until the engine obtains sufficient heat. The best remedy is to preheat! Text Box: Club News Congratulations to Denny Thompson and Jason Kinsinger for achieving their first solo in November. Both have only been members of the flight club since the third week of September. Stefano Rapisarda not only gives tailwheel and Stearman dual for us but just took his checkride to become a Glider Instructor. Great job, guys! Caf‚ Cabaret has gone to winter hours of Sun-Thur 6am to 4pm, Fri-Sat 6am to 8pm.