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Aircraft Air Conditioning[Home - Frequently Asked Questions - 12-volt Models - Testimonials - Prices]
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Aircraft Air Conditioning
How
does the Pilot & Copilot keep cool doing their low level runs
all day long saving lives & property from devastating wild
fires? 
The Factory Air Conditioning used for Pre-Cooling a Lear
Jet 45 Model on the Ground had been taken off line waiting for
Modifications. Two Swampy M300 MightyKool Models were brought
into service to help Pre-Cool the big 9 passenger jet cabin. (See
paragraph below)
"These (M300's) worked well on our trial this morning
out of Houston which was 94 degree F. (45%
Humidity & 77 Degree Dew Point) Our expectation was that we would be struggling, but
they seemed to have cooled the cabin sufficiently. -- The crew
actually used them until just prior to departure, loaded passengers,
dumped the H2O and ice remaining,and then stored the units in
the baggage bin and took off."
[Specifications
- Testimonials - Prices]
The 12-volt MightyKool M400
(left) or the MK3 (right) are generally
used with a separate 12-volt "Power Station" Gel Battery
while doing a pre-flight inspection, loading passengers, baggage
and upwards to cool altitudes. They are also sometimes used with
a step-down 24/28 to 12-Volt Converter installed in your 28-volt
aircraft.
(Note: The M400 has from 8 to 12% more air velocity than the earlier
versions M300 or MK3 plus the M400 is available in a 24/28 volt
model if you prefer using your aircraft battery instead of a portable
'power station').
With
simple installation the Flex Hose Kit
allows you to set the A/C in the baggage area while directing
the Cool Air up to ten feet where it is needed. Choose one of
these Kits for your Aircraft so that up to four people can benefit
from the cool air from a M400, MK3 or the MightyKool Model you
presently own. Each person will have his or her own adjustable
cool air outlet once you have the system set up.
IMPORTANT: It is easy plus vital to keep the entire
cooling system portable so that is does not pose a safety hazard
by treating it like any of your baggage.
June 16, 2007: The following was a Test Performed
Independently on a MightyKool M300 by Aviation Consumer Magazine
on a typical Florida Summer afternoon at 2:30 PM:
The (4 passenger) interior
was heat soaked to 106 degrees with a Dew Point an uncomfortable
73.9 degrees when the test began. Within 35 minutes the temperature
dropped to 86 degrees and the Dew Point dropped to 58.5 degrees!
Comment from the Aviation Consumer Editor was that "the M300
cooled impressively".
Pre-Cooling is a good solution! Why not
plug in a M400 or MK3 into a simple $60 "power station"
(sometimes called a "jump start") battery and let it
cool the cabin down while you are doing your pre-flight, loading
baggage, fuel and passengers? This type of battery is available
at most all auto accessory & discount stores. The typical
"power station" have built in cigarette lighter receptacles
plus battery charger and will operate either model for over five
hours before needing a charge, therefore eliminating using your
aircraft battery system.
Received August 21, 2007: I'm so glad
we are getting the chance to order another M300. I originally
bought the first one for my airplane. I am responsible for the
transportation of the CEO of S. M. When the owner of the company
heard about our (M300) air conditioner, he wanted one for his
plane too! I guess the plane's air conditioner doesn't get as
cold as he wants as fast as he wants. Anyway, mine has been working
wonderfully. A hot summer day is now enjoyable in the plane. Thanks
for your help again. Looking forward to receiving the (2nd) M300
soon. S. J. Arkansas
"S.H. of Myrtle Beach, SC ordered
his 2nd MightyKool M300 as he uses them in 7 passenger Commander
aircraft He operates them on a "jump start" battery
so he does not have to tie into the 24/28 volt power system of
the aircraft. They disconnected the compressor belt of the built
in aircraft air conditioning system as it did not cool the aircraft
anyway & puts strain on an engine so now they cool the cabins
with a Model M300."
This customer called us at Swampy
and said he ran his IM30 in the A36 (Bonanza Aircraft) for two
hours on the ramp backed up with a battery charger on an unbearably
humid, 95 degree day and the temperature in the A36 was 65 degrees!
He thinks he used three 7 pound bags of ice and after hour and
half the ice was gone. D.S. Kingswood, TX.
"I recently purchased the Swampy M200 Ice model for use in
my Cessna 182. I use the rear seat belt to hold it in. That permits
the air to be blown on both the passenger and the pilot. The units
works quite well, and I do get anywhere from 30 minutes to an
hour of use. I typically use it taxiing and until I reach altitude.
Then I pull the plug. On reaching pattern altitude I plug it back
in, and I usually have plenty of cooling left to make it to the
hanger. All my pilot friends are tickled we don\'t have to sweat
while waiting for takeoff. Thanks for the recommendation and for
a great product. I recommend it to all my pilot buddies." B.W.
Phoenix, AZ June 2006
Of course we always recommend installing Factory Air Conditioning
in any vehicle or Aircraft, however if that is not practical then
consideration could be made towards an Alternative. The Passengers
generally mentally suffer more from the heat as they are just
sitting with nothing to think about contrary to the Pilot who
is busy conversing with the Tower, picking up the clearance, etc.
Portable Air Conditioning can be moved from Aircraft to Aircraft
and will provide relief from the Stifling Heat while providing
less strain on the Engine than Factory installed systems and of
course on the pocket book.
If you were to order a special cigarette lighter receptacle mounted
in your aircraft it must be Certified, of course. We understand,
from previous discussions with the FAA, that you treat a Portable
Cooling System just like baggage. Secure it and be able to remove
it from the aircraft just like baggage.
Back To the Top
*Dear
(Aviation Consumer) Editor,
I am a long time user of the Swampy products including the IM30
that you reviewed and the IM20 all-in-one unit that you did not.
In the seven years that I have used their products I have been
very satisfied and have had very good results from both units
– far better than your review showed (with the IM30). Out
of curiosity I did a temperature and CFM test on a 12 volt IM20
that I currently own.
I tested the unit in 2 areas: 1. In the hangar. 2. In a car that
had been parked in the sun for several hours with the window cracked.
Unfortunately my airplane is currently in for annual and several
mods so I could not test the unit in the airplane. I also measured
the air temperature of the car’s air-conditioning unit for
comparison.
The chart below lists the outlet air temperature at high, medium
and low fan speeds and the cubic feet per minute of air moved.
I used the excellent portable Mannix DCFM-8906 CFM Master II to
do the measurements.
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As you can see the Swampy IM20 ranged
from 59.2 to 64.3 degrees for an average of 61.75 degrees which
is a good deal cooler than your tests showed. One possible explanation
- It is important in the IM30 to position the intake pump as far
away from the outlet hose as possible. If you put the two in close
proximity then I can see the increased temperature of your test
as the warm water being returned to the unit was being sucked
directly into the intake pump.
I had a very elegant and efficient installation of two IM30’s
in my Beech 18. I positioned one unit next to the cockpit to blow
cool air into the cockpit and the front seats. I had another unit
positioned on the refreshments stand near the back blowing on
the back and middle seats. Both were secured by the existing seat
and cargo belts. I plumbed both units to a stainless steel Coleman
ice chest in the potty area.
The Coleman unit was very large and held enough ice for an entire
4 hour flight. Both units were powered by removable 12 volt power
packs that I would plug in while on the ground. They would run
the coolers for a round trip so I didn’t have to worry about
recharging them on the road. Everything was very removable and
very safe.
I used the units for over two years while flying that wonderful
aircraft. As I could turn the coolers on at the beginning of the
preflight the cabin was nice and cool by the time the passengers
loaded. They loved that feature. For about (600) dollars (ea)
I had a very usable and efficient cooling system. A far better
bargain than the 25,000 dollar quote from an air-conditioner company.
Swampy had enough foresight to offer two great units. The IM30
for large and/or long term cooling using your own design and ice
chest and the very compact and portable IM20 all-in-one unit that
cools a typical 4 place cabin very nicely and holds two bags of
ice which is plenty for the typical start/taxi/climb to cool air
portion of the flight. The swamp cooler portion of the unit then
keeps the airplane cool for the approach/taxi/shutdown portion
even after the ice has melted. Every aircraft that I sold with
a Swampy unit installed flew away with the unit installed –
the new owner’s insisted.
I have had extremely good luck with the units and with the company
and owner behind the units. I recommend either very highly.
Sincerely,
Kevin Lockhart
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The IM30/IM20, M200/M300, MG3 & MK3 Provide; Dual Air Conditioning using Ice or Water All Dual Systems automatically dispose of the excess condensation collected |
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Inches - Centimeters |
Weight |
Capacity |
12v Low |
12v Med. |
12v High |
|
Black |
AC12 |
C=30 x 17 x 28.0 |
6.12 kg |
Any Size |
50.4 watts |
91.2 watts |
166.8 watts |
|
Black |
IM30 |
C=31.75 x 17 x 48.0 |
6.4 kg |
|
62.4 watts |
107 watts |
174 watts |
|
Black |
IM20 |
C=33 x 22.9 x 55.9 |
6.8 kg |
7.57 liters |
50.4 watts |
91.2 watts |
158.5 watts |
|
White |
M200 |
C=43.2 x 24.1 x 43.2 |
6.4 kg |
11.01 liters |
27.6 watts |
33.6 watts |
40.8 watts |
|
White |
M300 |
C=47 x 45.7 x 64.8 |
8.2 kg |
52.9 liters |
33.0 watts |
41.4 watts |
50.4 watts |
|
White |
MK3 |
C=24.4 x 20.3 x 18.5 |
2.27 kg |
|
27.6 watts |
33.6 watts |
40.8 watts |
|
White |
MK4 |
C=28.4 x 20.3 x 18.5 |
2.27 kg |
|
27.6 watts |
33.6 watts |
40.8 watts |
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Inches - Centimeters |
Weight |
Capacity |
12v Low |
12v Med. |
12v High |
Proudly made in
the USA