Wilting in the heat?
Then check out the new portable air conditioners from Arctic Air.
The company produces portable air conditioners for GA airplanes. The first generation air conditioners run on ice, while the latest generation are “real” air conditioners with compressors, according to Greg Turton, president.
Turton, a Cirrus driver from Atlanta, developed the air conditioners a few years ago using actual coolers. Since then, he has redesigned them, giving them a more stream-lined look.
The ice-cooled air conditioners start at around $500, while the air conditioners with compressors – which Turton introduced at last year’s Sun ‘n Fun – start around $4,000.
“When I started flying in 1999, I couldn’t believe that most airplanes do not have air conditioners,” he said. “I started asking around and realized why most of them did not. It was because the air conditioners were too expensive and the maintenance costs too high.”
If the portable air conditioners need maintenance, a pilot can just pull it out of his plane and send it back to Arctic Air.
The portability of the air conditioners is a popular feature.
“As pilots know, there are times when we would like to be able to take 50 more pounds on a trip, and with the Arctic Air units you can do just that by removing the unit for a single trip or for the entire winter,” he said.
For more information: ArcticAirCooler.com
