I always wonder.
2006-12-11 05:52:04 · 12 answers · asked by denzillion 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Yes, of course there is. Remember that when a plane goes super-sonic, outside panels become very hot due to air friction. Check this rather cool site: http://www.meriweather.com/16/16-layout.html
First locate the joystick, then use your mouse to hover over the small panel just right to the elongated upright panel below the jotstick. It's the a/c control panel.
If you're having problems, here's a direct link to the enlarged a/c panel: http://www.meriweather.com/16/right/air.html
2006-12-11 06:58:08 · answer #1 · answered by ashtray 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Air conditioning means changing the condition of the air and I know for certain that some fighters do have it. I can't speak for all. I know not all fighters provide liquid cooling. You have just the same issues in a plane that you do in a car, so if you are on a low level mission on an overcast and rainy day you'd get the inside of the windows misting up. You need to provide dry air on warm wet days or you get condensation on your cooled pilot and on the instruments and cockpit. Or imagine climbing from a 99% humidity 110F Florida runway to 30,000 feet and finding you couldn't see out of the plane any more.
Well, this takes some proving. The following link shows the cockpit of the English Electric lightning and one of the panel variants shows switch 31 as the cockpit a/c.
The second link shows that the Mirage F1 has air conditioning.
The third link shows the F16 has it.
2006-12-11 07:09:05 · answer #2 · answered by Chris H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At high altitudes, the temperature is low but the effects of the sun are greater. The canopy of a fighter is like a greenhouse, so while it might be -30F outside, the sun is more intense. You still need airflow, so an airplane, even a fighter, needs an enviromental control system.
The environmental system runs off of bleed air ( air bled off the turbine of the jet engine) to drive air and heat, but not the same as an automobile.
2006-12-12 02:28:37 · answer #3 · answered by Andrew 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pilots wear "cool suits" that circulate cooled water into their jumpsuits. An "A/C" wouldn't do much while wearing a helmet, gloves, and a full bodysuit. Most pilots do swweat a lot after long flights and have been known to lose weight after intense missions. It does get warm, depending on altitude and "intensity" of activity. P.S. - there is no "wind chill factor" at extreme elevations inside a cockpit...in fact, unless your windows are open. It's not terribly hot up high, but consider that fighter planes do fly low altitudes and yes, get quite warm.
2006-12-11 05:56:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Consider the wind chill factor at Mach 1.5. Other than when the plane is taxiing on the ground it is unlikely to encounter an overheating situation in the cockpit.
2006-12-11 05:57:24 · answer #5 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt that. At those heights where these plains fly, there is always a negative temperature which means they'd need a heater much more than A/C unit. What I wonder if do they have a GPS system, since they are not on the ground.
2006-12-11 05:54:26 · answer #6 · answered by Michael R 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They all have an environmental system, it runs off the bleed air of the engine, for both heating and cooling.
2006-12-11 07:45:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably not. when you're risking your life like that. air conditioning is the very last thing on your mind.
also if you fly at a high enough altitude you won't need it.
where do you think bomber jackets came from?
you're not exactly baking up there.
2006-12-11 05:55:46 · answer #8 · answered by the one and only robertc1985 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No need for it. It's much cooler at 20,000 feet
2006-12-11 05:54:37 · answer #9 · answered by dundalk1 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no. it's in the pilots flight suit.
2006-12-11 05:53:29 · answer #10 · answered by killer boot 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋