Winter flying issues

It can be beautiful - just be very careful while traveling!

 Winter flying can be unpleasant. Nobody wants to be at the airport in 20 degree weather, wind blowing, trying to brush the snow and ice off the airplane. Even the airplane doesn't like it, because it's small battery (every extra pound means the aircraft can carry one pound less baggage, fuel, or persons) makes it hard to start in sub-freezing wather, and the wind can skid it around on the snow and ice when it trying to take off. For the occupants, it's a safety issue if you have to land at a small airport due to weather or other problems, which may not be attended or have heated facilities.

It can be beautiful in winter, of course, as the picture illustrates. Watch the 3 minute video of a winter test flight at the factory in the Czech Republic:

Our plan for the trip from Florida to Richland is to avoid freezing weather by staying as far south as needed. Several Phoenix motorgliders have done the trip from Florida to the West Coast in the winter months, all successfully, with minimal delays of only a day or two, so it is practical to expect to do the same.

The "faux flight" home continued today. See the remarks added to the "flight page":