ALASKA AIRMEN'S ASSOCIATION FORUMS

We are wondering how pilots in AK, keep their plane engines warm in those cold temps? Do they leave some kind of heat on the engine the whole winter? We see those planes sitting out in the cold and we are feeling bad for them.
We are in MI and we keep heat on our engine inside the hanger during the winter.

If the operators are going to be doing any scheduled flying they may have hanger space available and if not they will use insulated cowling and wing/tail covers to keep the snow and cold back. Overnight the fluids would usually be drained and brought into the cabin/tent/shop to keep them from freezing within the motor. Next morning they would be put back into the motor and if it was really cold a heater tent would be set up to heat the engine compartment. Now on a lower 48 winter day the old boys may not even use the covers , but I digress. If they are parked for the winter like most of the planes at Lake Hood are, then they are winterized much like a walleye/bass boat would be here in Minnesota and left to endure the bitter cold.