Aircraft Air Conditioning
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How to Pre-Cool a Bombardier Lear Jet Model 45 with two Swampy M300 MightyKools!



The Factory Air Conditioning used for Pre-Cooling the Lear Jet 45 Models 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. (We do not know how long that they pre-cooled)



"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."


June 16, 2007: The following was a Test Performed Independently 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 of 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 M300 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? The typical "power station" will operate either model for over five hours before needing a charge, with their built in charger, 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


This Classic Beech 18 has two Swampy IM30 Models to help keep the Crew and Passengers cool.

* Read the Test Report sent to Aviation Consumer by the Owner of this Classic Beech 18!

The Swampy Aircraft Air Conditioning Systems produce cool dry air into the Cabin. The AC12 (left) or IM30 (right) are not to be used with a step down 28/12 Volt Converter. They may be converted into 24/28 Volt Models during Production, however you may wish to consider the MK3 or M300 models below as a simpler solution.



[Specifications - Testimonials - Prices]

The MightyKool M300 (left) or the MK3 (right) are sometimes used with a step-down 28 to 12 Volt Converter. However these Models are generally used with a "Power Station" Gel Battery while doing the pre-flight inspection, loading baggage, passengers & continuing their use until up to cool altitudes.

Click on Frequently Asked Questions then on Aircraft #4 as there are some good ideas on how the best way to utilize these DC Air Conditioners in Aircraft.



"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 tickeled 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.

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*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 curiousity 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.

 Testing area

 Temperature of Testing area

Outlet Temp/CFM Low Fan

 Outlet Temp/CFM Medium Fan

 Outlet Temp/CFM High Fan

 Hangar (Shade)

88.9 degrees

 59.2 / 1254

61.3 / 1726

61.3 / 2733

 Car (Sun)

 101.1

61.6 / 1023 

 62.8 / 1735

64.3 / 2288

Car’s Own AC (Single Vent)

101.1

 55.9 / 712

 58.9 / 1051

 60.8 / 1482

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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[How do the Ice Models Work?



The Models Below are all used in Aircraft, however today the Favorites are the M300, MK3 & IM30
Specifications
All Models manufactured from rugged non-corrosive ABS Plastic

 The Air Conditioning Model AC 12 uses Ice only
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

Model

 Model Types Color Coded

Dimensions L/W/H
Inches
- Centimeters

Dry
Weight

 Water
Capacity

 Amps@
12v Low

 Amps@
12v Med.

Amps@
12v High

 AC12
Black

 Icester
AC12

 I=11 ¾ x 6 ¾ x 11
C=30 x 17 x 28.0

13 lb
6.12 kg

Ice Chest
Any Size

4.2
50.4 watts

7.6
91.2 watts

13.9
166.8 watts

IM30
Black

IceStrMystr
IM30

I=12 ½ x 6 ¾ x 18 ¾
C=31.75 x 17 x 48.0

 14.0 lb
6.4 kg

 Ice Chest Any Size

 5.2
62.4 watts

 8.9
107 watts

 14.5
174 watts

IM20
Black

IceMystr
IM20

I=13 x 9 x 22
C=33 x 22.9 x 55.9

 15.0 lb
6.8 kg

 2 gallons
7.57 liters

 4.2
50.4 watts

 7.6
91.2 watts

 13.2
158.5 watts

 M200
White

 MightyKool
M200

 I=17 x 9 ½ x 17
C=43.2 x 24.1 x 43.2

 14 lb
6.4 kg

 2½ gallons
11.01 liters

 2.3
27.6 watts

 2.8
33.6 watts

3.4
40.8 watts

 M300
White

 MightyKool
M300

 I=18 ½ x 18 x 25 ½
C=47 x 45.7 x 64.8

 18 lb
8.2 kg

 12 gallons
52.9 liters

2.3
27.6 watts

2.8
33.6 watts

3.4
40.8 watts

 MK3
White

 MightyKool
MK3

 I=13 ¾ x 8 x 7 ¼
C=24.4 x 20.3 x 18.5

 5 lb
2.27 kg

  Ice Chest Any Size

 2.3
27.6 watts

 2.8
33.6 watts

3.4
40.8 watts

MG3
White

 MightyKool
MG3

 I=18 x 8 x 12 ½
C=45.7 x 20.3 x 31.75

 10 lb
4.5 kg

 Ice Chest Any Size

2.3
27.6 watts

2.8
33.6 watts

3.4
40.8 watts

Model

 Model Types Color Coded

Dimensions L/W/H
Inches
- Centimeters

Dry
Weight

 Water
Capacity

 Amps@
12v Low

 Amps@
12v Med.

Amps@
12v High



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12-Volt Models areProudly made in the USA

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Swampy Cooling Systems - Mesa, Arizona USA

Serving the World with 12 Volt Portable Coolers since 1989

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Latest update 3/17/08