Originally Posted by
Chris Martyr
Always remember . You're better off down here wishing you were up there than vice-versa..
Totally agree. However, I do think that a lot of pilots are put off flying in the Winter months (on what might be a gin-clear day) because they don't understand what "icing conditions" entails. I was always surprised at the number of aircraft parked up at our flying school on the most amazing of Winter days (including weekends) when the roads were icy and cars frosted over. Yet people would push their luck on a hazy "fish bowl" Saturday afternoon in the Summer when everyone else is up!
@Jon - If the aircraft is cold soaked outside overnight, and you've thoroughly de-iced all of the critical surfaces, and there is no visible moisture (i.e. cloud or fog) then you should be in for some cracking flying weather with great performance to boot (if the engines starts!).