Last week brought record heat to the west coast, with temperatures reaching beyond 100 degrees in my neck of the woods. It was a perfect time to fly to Phoenix for a story — not. But alas, a trip to the city in the desert was on my schedule. It was a good opportunity to test out the heat tolerance of my Mooney and I had to use some tricks to keep the airplane from overheating.
Flying in Extreme Heat
![Sizzling Summer Safety Series by Jolie Lucas provides pilots and their companions with tools to recognize and manage the human factors that can compromise aviation safety and decision making. [Credit: Mooney]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/httpswww.flyingmag.comsitesflyingmag.comfilesimport2015sitesallfiles_images201509Tip-Heat-Mooney-thumb.jpg)
Key Takeaways:
- The author flew a Mooney M20C from Phoenix in extreme 107°F heat, necessitating specific flight adjustments to prevent engine overheating.
- To manage engine temperatures, the pilot ascended to 8,500 feet for cooler air, maintained a faster climb speed (120-130 mph), and used a richer fuel mixture.
- Despite the challenging conditions, these procedural changes successfully kept the aircraft's engine operating smoothly and within safe temperature limits.
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