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Old 21st January 2015 | 13:02
  #36 (permalink)  
Fitter2
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,158
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From: 51.50N 1W (ish)
It's remarkable at altitude how the cockpit temperature goes from being comfortably (or even uncomfortably) warm in sunshine to cold in cloud shadow. Electric insoles inside moonboots are very effective, a 1 minute burst every 15 or so keeps feet warm.

The coldest glider I found was the SHK, with quite a small canopy for sun-warmth and a very thin non-structural fibreglass nose. That was a foot-freezer at 18,000ft. Thermal underwear with layers are (as has been said earlier) the way to go.

As a lifetime non-smoker I have always been OK up to 14,000ft or so without supplementary oxygen, and higher on short rapid climb and descent; flying in Spouth Africa all day at 10K to 16K an EDS system means I don't get a headache after flying (and increases the alcohol liimit).
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