Wondering whether you are going to dissolve into a puddle of sweat, you call tower advising that you’re ready for takeoff. Starting up, getting your instrument clearance, taxiing out and completing the runup in the heat-soaked airplane on a 95-degree day has been miserable—but relief is only a few minutes away when you climb into cooler air.
The reply from the tower comes quickly: You hear your N number and then, “… hold for release, it looks like it’s going to be about 15 minutes.” With visibility less than three miles in haze, and IFR traffic inbound, getting a special VFR out isn’t happening. Now, you get to explain to your spouse and kids that you’re going to be sitting and cooking for even longer.