Looking at this photo makes me cold while I sit here in my warm office. At 2 degrees it’s hard to believe that the cockpit is going to be warm enough to go jacket-less. Sometimes the temptation for immediate warmth is too great, and I saddle up, and strap in with my jacket still firmly intact. The jacket generally lasts about an hour before I am damp with sweat and squirming in discomfort. Opening the little side window for ventilation at -10 degrees F seldom does the trick, so then I have to unbuckle my seatbelt and peel my jacket off before I dehydrate entirely. There are twin 2″ hoses pouring hot, hot, hot air into the cockpit. The passenger is generally a bit cooler as all the hot air has to get past me before getting to them. They have their own hose in the back seat and they can point it in any direction until that limb burns off.
The problem tends to be that while one foot is getting blistered with heat the opposite ear is getting frostbit. That is not entirely true in my Cub because I take great efforts each Fall to ensure that ol’ N7780Y is well insulated and free from air leaks. The biggest challenge is sealing the upper door half as air tends to pour in around the hinge and latch. I have hours, and hours, and hours, chasing leaks and building little mods to help keep the hot air in and the cold air out. It has paid off as the passengers never complain of hypothermia, and actually comment frequently on the comfort of the back seat. Anybody who has spent more than 2 hours in the back of a Super Cub can attest to how unusual a comment like this is. I think my next step will be to have La-Z-Boy design the seat cushion.