air conditioning- nice, required, or silly?

In article .com,
wrote:

Anybody have any experience with air conditioning in their plane-Nice
to have? Silly accessory? Don't leave home without it? 80% Summer
flying in Northeast.

depends on the airplane. In my cherokee 140, it was 70 pounds of
useless weight. Originally, my 140 was a Texas airplane, so the AC
was much more useful. But in the northeast, if it's hot enough that
the AC is really really nice, then it's too hot for decent take-off
performance for my 140.

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

In the PA28-180 airplanes the air conditioner is famous for reducing the
useful load and helping to throw the alternator belt. I live in Arizona and
find a $20 vent scoop and a trailed open door to be good enough for my
comfort zone.

--
Best Regards,
Mike

http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel

It is not work that kills men; it is worry. Worry is rust upon the blade.
wrote in message
oups.com...
Anybody have any experience with air conditioning in their plane-Nice
to have? Silly accessory? Don't leave home without it? 80% Summer
flying in Northeast.


Thanks for your opinion.

Andy

Anybody have any experience with air conditioning in their plane-Nice
to have? Silly accessory? Don't leave home without it? 80% Summer
flying in Northeast.

Never had it, never missed it.

Unlike a car, you've got a built-in fan up front, with doors and
windows that open. And, of course, you're only on the ground long
enough to taxi out to the runway. Within minutes, you'll be up where
it's nice and cool.

I guess if Atlas (our Piper 235) had it, I'd probably use it (he's got
useful load to burn) -- but I wouldn't bother installing it. And if
I had a plane that was "payload-challenged" I'd probably remove it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Sat, 07 Jul 2007 07:48:54 -0700, wrote:

Anybody have any experience with air conditioning in their plane-Nice
to have? Silly accessory?

I'd like it if I had it.

Had it in one rental, wish I had it in the owned plane. I live in CT
and my usual trips are New England, the Cape and Islands, NY, NJ, and
PA, with the occasion trip to FL and TX.

It's GREAT on a long ground hold or taxiing at large airports.

You can always turn it off. G

Followup question for those of you who have one installed:
What are the associated maintenance and repair costs for the A/C and its
related components?

The Turbo-arrow IV I fly had A/C originally installed, but it was
removed more than 10 years ago.)

In article ,
john smith wrote:

Followup question for those of you who have one installed:
What are the associated maintenance and repair costs for the A/C and its
related components?

I had one on my cherokee 140 (until I removed it). It was in-op (no freon)
and I didn't have a problem with the alternator belts breaking, so the
associated maintenance and repair costs were zero.

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

B,

You can always turn it off. G


which doesn't reduce weight much, though.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On Sun, 08 Jul 2007 11:23:57 +0200, Thomas Borchert
wrote:

B,

You can always turn it off. G


which doesn't reduce weight much, though.

True.

I think the power/useful load/cost trade-off doesn't make sense for
most situations, including NOrtheeastern summers and single-engine
pistons. Also, many of the planes that offer AC as an option can be and
are flown high, so heat isn't an issue for long anyway. But, as always,
it's a question of what your mission is.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas Borchert wrote:
I think the power/useful load/cost trade-off doesn't make sense for
most situations, including NOrtheeastern summers and single-engine
pistons. Also, many of the planes that offer AC as an option can be and
are flown high, so heat isn't an issue for long anyway. But, as always,
it's a question of what your mission is.

The problem is that many northeast airports are very busy and have long
taxi times. I've spent 30 minutes on the taxiway at Philly, Washington
National (pre 9/11 obviously), and Boston. On a 95 F day, this is
extremely unpleasant, even with the windows open (one nice 182 advantage).


Matt