Brian wrote> I know that it's been discussed here before, but I can't help
but think that
there is enough heat in the exhaust of a rotary to de-ice the wings on
say, an RV-4.
Wrathall Mark wrote:
Icing conditions is not where you want to be in a low powered single!
Normally freezing conditions will only exist through a relatively thin layer
of the atmosphere, so a climb or descent of a couple of thousand feet will
get you out of it. The problem will low powered aircraft is that you often
can't climb a 200hp plane carrying ice with an iced up airfoil, halving your
possiblities to the undesirable half (Descending in IFR with a load of ice).
In the RV, you are limited to 12000' (16000' for a short time) without
oxygen. Most jets can punch up through it, and their greater speed reduces
the time they spend collecting ice.
There may be enough heat for de-iceing, but the atmosphere can supply
conditions more severe than any system can anti-ice, so the only safe
practice is avoidance.
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