Hot Wing

[PrettyFlyCFI]

Is a hot wing considered anti-ice or de-ice?

[markster]

So thermawing (what I have on my Columbia) is both anti-ice in parts and de-ice in parts. Of course if you have ice and turn on the system (its use on the ground is discouraged and not permitted at all except at high engine RPM's), it will begin shedding any ice that has developed on the heated surfaces. However during normal operation, the "impingement area" which is the part that gets hit with the moisture immediately is kept above freezing such that ice never forms. The area just behind that impingement area is normally kept below freezing such that ice will start to accumulate, but then the surface will periodically be heated to release that ice and have it removed by aerodynamic forces. I believe this is to try to prevent runback from being a problem (where the water trickles back on the wing and refreezes).

Mark

[HawkerDriver]

Originally Posted by PrettyFlyCFI

Is a hot wing considered anti-ice or de-ice?

Both

[TysonInFlight]

I think it depends on the sauce that you get on your wings. I prefer Parmesean Garlic, however it is only anti-ice.

[PrettyFlyCFI]

Originally Posted by TysonInFlight

I think it depends on the sauce that you get on your wings. I prefer Parmesean Garlic, however it is only anti-ice.

Favorite response so far.

I ask because I was discussing de-ice/anti-ice with a student a little while back and he asked the same question. I was kind of stumped because I know that anti-ice is a preemptive measure whereas de-ice can remove ice that's already built up. The student's argument was that it was anti-ice since there wasn't anything to physically remove the ice. I kept thinking surely they wouldn't have transport category aircraft out there without the ability to remove built up ice.

[exTWAnonrev]

Originally Posted by TysonInFlight

I think it depends on the sauce that you get on your wings. I prefer Parmesean Garlic, however it is only anti-ice.

Haha that reminds me, a few years ago at AOPA expo, some company (TKS if memory serves) was giving out hot "wing" sauce at their both. I think I still have a bottle of it.

[Falcondvr]

Originally Posted by PrettyFlyCFI

Favorite response so far.

I ask because I was discussing de-ice/anti-ice with a student a little while back and he asked the same question. I was kind of stumped because I know that anti-ice is a preemptive measure whereas de-ice can remove ice that's already built up. The student's argument was that it was anti-ice since there wasn't anything to physically remove the ice. I kept thinking surely they wouldn't have transport category aircraft out there without the ability to remove built up ice.

Although heated leading edges can melt ice already present (like Hawker said), wing anti-ice or "hot wings" are considered an anti-ice system. They are designed to be activated before entering icing conditions to prevent the formation of ice.

Inflatable boots like what are on the King Airs are concidered Deice devices. They are designed to remove ice that has already formed on the leading edge.