Hypothermia on I-16 at high alts

[-250H-Ursus_]

I have a question. A I-16 pilot can be flying at really high alts on cold days? I'm talking about 5000mts+

 

I'm really getting used to see those planes flying at 6000 on TAW, even on winter maps when the temperature its -15, -25°c on surface.

 

I'v been talking with a couple of friends and i have mixed answers about this topic.

"The pilot dies of hypothermia"

"Heat of engine on cockpit saves the pilot from the death"

"They have special clothing"

"Nearly impossible to climb to 6000 before hypothermia starts"

 

So i'm confused... It cans or not

 

[ZachariasX]

As long as you don‘t stick your head too much in the slipstream, there‘s a cckpit heater usually. Gets plenty of heat from the engine. It works relatively well in open cockpits, at least compared to not having it. But you do bring a warm, very warm jacket etc.

[-=PHX=-SuperEtendard]

Closing the engine intake helps to keep good temperatures by restricting the amount of cold air entering the nose. I suppose there was an exterior temperature limit for the pilot, but dont know which one would that be. 

 

And yeah they would use a good bit of clothes

 

Some MiGs were flown without canopies, we cant tell about this one. You dont get the radial heating up the air inside the nose of the plane, but plumbing to the water radiator can help keeping the cockpit warm if they pass close to it. 

Edited January 28, 2019 by -=PHX=-SuperEtendard

[Feathered_IV]

I read some Soviet pilot interviews recently   And they mentioned that the I-16 was quite warm due to the engine.  Interestingly, some others talked about the La series and said the cockpit could become unbearably hot.  As high as 70 degrees Celsius around their feet.  They would frequently have to lift their feet off the rudder pedals to get some relief.  

[-SF-Disarray]

If I remember right some of the early LA 5 production runs had issues with the firewall seal. That caused breathing issues as you'd expect but that could also account for some of the heat.