I often say that I feel cold when the air temperature is below +25C. This is partly true. When I was on scuba diving vacation on Sulawesi, it was +30C all day around, also at night. Very nice indeed! We stayed in simple wooden huts, and everybody got a thin cotton blanket. After my first night, I asked for an additional one – some time early in the morning I felt chill. But I love outdoor activities, winter with snow and frost, and then I just need to use the right equipment to keep myself warm and happy. This Christmas, I got a really nice gift, knee-high heat socks from Lenz (can be used for winter flying!):
Those merino wool socks were so comfortable! Lithium batteries needed to be charged, and then attached to the socks’ cuffs. You can even charge them whilst airborne – the cable is long enough and has a usb plug!
I normally used the disposable ones from Thermopad. Once activated, they can keep your feet/hands warm for up to 8-12 hours:
They are practical, but not as elegant as the socks from Lenz, where the heat level can also be controlled via app:
And the best thing is that left and right socks have separate controls. In Aeroprakt, warm air (if turned on) enters the cockpit on the pilot-in-command’ feet side. And mostly on the left foot – so my right foot was sometimes a bit cold. This problem is now instantly solved! I tested the socks, and they performed perfectly. Never cold feet again!
Besides testing the socks, I wanted to fix my radio. After repair, it was reset to the factory default, and there was some noise on intercom. Lars agreed to help me finding the right settings. I had tried myself, but with not much luck.
We got airborne, and began testing different scenarios and settings.
Being in landing pattern at 1200 feet, I suddenly saw a Merlin helicopter flying towards me on a collision course at the same altitude. I altered to the right, and we safely passed each other:
We didn’t have the time to take selfies in the sky, so I did it after Lars and I landed:
We also found the right settings for the intercom, and were happy the problem could be solved so easily. Radio issues can often be difficult to troubleshoot.
Lars was kind to pose for me with my newly made bag, I sewed for my canopy cover. It turned out to be quite stylish, and with the size of only 6 x 28 x 36 cm it is going to be very practical to have with me on my flying trips. I could make it even smaller, but wanted to have good room for the cover:
I showed Lars my drone and how much fun it was to fly it:
The sunset view from the hangar:
Test of my new socks went fine, noise on the intercom was solved, collision with Merlin avoided. Lars and I had a cup of tea in the club house before we called it a good day.