Cold weather is coming - the best time to fly

[A2022]

Years ago, my first aircraft cold weather test occurred in Waukesha, WI, where temperatures reached -20°C. The most extreme cold I've faced was -30°C during a brief moment when leaving Lunken Airport. Once, at 20,000 feet over Alabama, the thermometer read -27°C. Last winter, the temperature was -25°C when I executed some gentle aerobatics; the aircraft performed superbly, but the propeller lost a shim, so I'll avoid doing that again. Cold weather certainly provides valuable lessons about your aircraft's capabilities.