helicopters and air conditioning

[Splat]

I don't know any USCG pilots, so I thought I'd ask the collective think tank we have here. Seems we have people from all walks of life.

I was watching something on TV the other day about the cost guard, in several pictures they showed inside the chopper and the pilots apparently had the climate control on cause you could see jets of "fog" or mist coming down. I had always thought this was just regular air conditioning on steroids that was so cold it was condensing in the warm cockpit. Then a buddy of mine told me he believes they actually use bleed air to pressurize water and run a misting system in the cockpit to cool it.

Seems to me either way would work, and be close in terms of weight, but a missing system seems easier to tie into the power systems of a chopper, also the cloud in the cockpit would seem to back this up.

Anyone know for sure? It's weird the things you ponder throughout the day.

Bill

 

[sky7]

Re: helicopters and air conditioning

Here's a pack (air conditioning unit) from a regional jet. I'm guessing the helicopter uses a similar system. Ours pump out vapor like crazy and passengers often confuse it for smoke. It's just very cold air contacting humid air.

I hope the pic works, it's my first shot at photobucket.

Edit, after some more thinking, most aircraft use packs like this to not only condition air, but also to pressurize the cabin. The helo, on the other hand, does not pressurize so it may use a different system.

 

[Splat]

Re: helicopters and air conditioning

Like I said, we have people from all walks of life Lol. Pretty cool thanks for the pic, it's cool to see how that all works, I was familiar sorta with ac packs in jets, I'm betting your right, it's probably much the same system in rotary wings.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: helicopters and air conditioning

It depends on the helicopter. Practically every civilian and local government helicopter you see flying around everyday (A-Stars, Bell 407, 206, Eurocopter EC 135, 145, Agusta Koala 119, 109 Power, etc…) use a belt driven compressor exactly the same thing as in your car.