Foster-Miller has been involved in the development of microclimate cooling systems for military flight aircrews for almost a decade. Two types of systems are currently available. Both cool garments worn directly against the skin to enhance heat removal from the body. They are: 

• Vapor compression systems for aircraft without their own Environmental Control Systems (ECS).
• Non-vapor compression systems for use with platforms that have their own ECS system to provide supplemental cooling.

Specific systems developed by Foster-Miller for aircrews include:

Air Warrior Microclimate Cooler (MCU). Flight-qualified hardware developed for UH-60, CH-47D, and OH-58D aircraft that is undergoing operational testing on all three aircraft. This system provides 324W of cooling in an ambient temperature of 125ºF; more cooling at lower ambient temperatures. The cooler weighs just 13 lb, runs on 28 VDC power, and draws no more than 12A under all conditions. The system is expected to be commercially available in 2003. It was developed under contract to Aircrew Integrated Systems (PM ACIS), Redstone Arsenal, AL.

AH-64D Apache Microclimate Cooling Subsystem (MCCS). This system uses cool air from the ECS system to cool both the pilot and co-pilot. Up to 360W of cooling is available. The cooling hardware weighs about 8.5 lb per crewmember (total of 17 lb). A hardware performance and aircraft compatibility demonstration was conducted in the Fall of 2002. This project was also done under contract with PM ACIS at Redstone Arsenal.

F-15 and F-16 Aircrew Personal Environmental Control System (APECS). This system uses cool air from the ECS system to cool the aircrew in both aircraft. It provides up to 300W of cooling per aircrew member. APECS has been demonstrated in several aircraft at Dryden Flight Research Center, CA. It was developed under contract to the U.S. Air Force Research Lab at Brooks AFB, TX.

RAH-66 Comanche Crew Cooling. Another ECS-based system is being developed by Foster-Miller. This version will use very cold air and a unique heat exchanger design to extract the needed cooling.

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