No Sweat
Cool Off With Arctic Air’s Portable Real AC
Forget what you heard about any “Arctic Blast.” July 2019 was the hottest month recorded in world history, August was second, and, this week, Southern California saw highs in the 90s. And it’s November. Imagine what most of the U.S. will be like next summer.
If you’re the kind of person who buys Christmas presents in July, now might be time to think about how you’re going to cool your plane when the seasons change. Owner pilots know what it feels like inside a metal box that’s been sitting on the tarmac under the scorching sun.
Most general aviation aircraft don’t come with air conditioning systems. It’s expensive, and once you get to altitude, you don’t need it. The temperature drops 3.3°F for every thousand feet in altitude. But, if you want those high-altitude temperatures on the ground, a conventional AC can cost you as much as $25,000.
When we started out designing the unit for the aircraft, I didn’t want to pay the $25,000 or so that it costs to put an air conditioner in a general aviation aircraft.
That’s where Real AC comes in. The Georgia-based manufacturer has several competitors for its ice cooler portable units. However, the company appears to be the only one offering an electrical model designed explicitly for general aviation aircraft.
Arctic Air’s “Real AC” has two models ranging from 50 to 60 lbs. and from $4,600 to $4,750. Unit size depends on the number of flexible ducts. The smaller unit – equipped for 12 or 24 volts – moves 200 cfm of cool air. The larger model, at 24 volts only, has two ducts moving 400 cfm.
Aviation air conditioning is not only expensive: it’s also heavy. Most general aviation aircraft don’t come equipped with air conditioning systems because the extra weight can result in a major loss in useful load. Real AC adds pounds, but it’s portable.
“The nice thing is you can take it out,” said Turton. “If you have too many people going or have too much luggage, you can take it out, so we find that a lot of people will take it out of the plane maybe 25-30 percent of the time. They’ll fly with it during the hot months, and during the winter they can take it out to save the weight.”
The difference between Real AC and other electrical systems available for aircraft is not only the cost and the weight: it’s the quality. Centralized systems frequently malfunction, leaking Freon, leading to increased maintenance costs, according to Arctic Air Vice President David Herlovich.
Real AC comes on with the push of a button and can cool off a cabin in five to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the aircraft, and last from 45 minutes to two hours. Because air gets naturally cooler as they climb higher, many users turn Real AC off.
“Once you get up to altitude, it cools off so much that you don’t need AC,” said Herlovich. “Some customers fly low altitude, but, for most GA aircraft, they’re flying high where they don’t need air conditioning for most of the flight.”
The units require no STCs but do require an installation time of about two days with the help of an aircraft mechanic to put an electrical connection in the plane. Most users strap the device into the back of the plane, where an inspection plate can be removed to release hot air.
“The unit itself is a portable device, so the installation involves putting in a plug into the back of aircraft where the unit’s going to sit,” said Herlovich. “There’s a couple of different plugs that they can use, but they’re made for aviation.”
Recently, Hangar67’s Will Jackson was hanging out at the hangar when he met a visitor from out of town. The Baron owner stated the Arctic Air system was the best $5,000 he had spent on an airplane.
When I hear an endorsement from a fellow pilot for a product, I take special notice. I am working on two planes now: a Baron 58P and a Cessna 421C. Based on my new friend’s endorsement, I will strongly consider a couple of Real AC systems. Sweating my fanny off during startup procedure and taxi has long been a nuisance I would love to rid myself of this summer.
For more information on Arctic Air’s products, visit arcticaircooler.com.
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