First time flying in the winter

Today was the first time that I went up during the winter weather. Temperature was rated at -5 with -12 with windchill. There's a lot more to the weather report that I should know about as a pilot (like knowing the ceiling visibility altitude) but as my classes progress and I am able to note these variables in my journal, I'll write what I know for now.

Taking the plane (Cessna 172SP) out for the first time in winter weather is amazing. It's a completely different experience than flying in the warmer weather. For one, the air is a lot denser which makes take off a heck of a lot faster and maneuvering much easier to handle. It's the difference between running into the wind and with the wind.

Some noticeable differences during today's flight include:

• Take off procedures: Cold engine starts take a little getting used to (for the first time) as the engine had a little difficulty starting up and warming up. Otherwise, all other safety procedures and checks went smoothly!
  
• Take-Off: I was surprised by how steep and fast the plane flew after take off. There was a very noticeable difference today than in weather above zero degree temperatures. I don't know how much faster the plane went, but I think I was at 3000' in about 8 minutes compared to the regular 12 minutes or so (I know that I'm a bit off here because things were going a bit quickly for me).
• Maneuvering: Flying small planes like the 172SP are one of the safest and durable starter aircraft available. The 172SP is known for its safety record and stability which makes for an excellent starter plane for beginner pilots. Since my flight career started in May 2008, I've only been flying in hot and humid weather. Today, I felt like my plane had a new, faster engine installed and I got to tear through the sky for the first time. Banking left and right felt more natural since the aircraft cut in more deliberately. I can only wonder if the more expensive planes have improved control like this, but during the summer months.
  
• Heat: It is freezing up there.
  

Overall, my airborne experience in the colder weather was a lot of fun. Classes are canceled until after new years, so until then, I'll have to wait until January 10th for my next lesson. Next week, I'll write about our start-up procedures and what we go through before every flight. It'll be good practice for me to review this too while I'm writing about it.