It can be really warn even at 17,000 feet
without A/C in an IV-PT. Why? The bleed air is super warm. Absolutely
necessary? Not IMHO. But a few letdowns from 20k+ and a drip drip drip off the
end of your nose will tell you it’s nice. Or in summer heat in Houston,
Phoenix or some other sauna, it is even better than nice.
Wouldn’t it be good to use that air
to air heat exchanger in line with the bleed air to the cabin? HEAVY.
Jim
From: Lancair Mailing
List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf
Of Dan & Kari Olsen
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
11:05 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Necessity of A/C in
IV-P?
LML
Gang,
With
all the discussion of structural integrity compromises of the IV-P fuselage by
cutting air conditioning holes, I have a question for you seasoned IV-P
drivers… How necessary is air conditioning in this aircraft?
I
have been flying my 320 for almost 9 years now and certainly would love to have
had it during ground operations on hot summer days with the green house
canopy. However, once moving and at altitude, there is no need. I
realize that the IV-P is going to have warmer air because of the pressurization
but it is also typically flying much higher (colder ambient) and it
doesn’t have the bubble canopy.
So,
in normal cross country cruise operations above FL180, do any of you that
don’t have A/C *really* wish
that you had it?
I’m
early in the building of my IV-P and don’t want to put it in for several
reasons:
·
Weight
·
Potential structural issues
·
Cost
·
One more thing to break down the road
I
live in Colorado and will be using this plane as a cross country traveler with
my wife, so comfort is certainly a factor but not at all costs. One
thought is to get one of those cooler-with-ice-and-a-fan systems to toss in the
back seat for those few days that are very hot.
I
appreciate your input.
Dan
Olsen
Fort
Collins, CO
N320DK
– 640hrs
IV-P
– 10% done