I have a client I fly with that bought a 2008 Garmin 1000 C182 brand new in 2008 and threw in an after market installed A/C. Worth every pound of that 100lb reduction in useful load in the Texas heat!

I will mention that when taking off with 3 occupants at Winslow, AZ (4941 MSL)in August with a surface temp of 35C, remember to turn it off for takeoff

 

I have time in Texas summers with a late-model 206Hes with the Keith system & I heartily do not recommend them.

• the registers are on the floor
• the ducting is exposed and takes up space
• system has to be shut down for takeoffs/ go arounds
• adds cost, weight, complexity
• may not cool adequately anyway
• limits your choice of used airframes

Just tell your passengers they'll get all the cold air they want at the top of the climb.

 

I wouldn't fly a Cirrus in the South without air conditioning.

I know a bunch of Turbo owners say you don't "need" AC because the airplane climbs very well into the upper teens where the air is cooler...but for <150nm trips its pretty much a necessity, especially if somebody expects to get out of the airplane in 90 degree weather and head to a business meeting without first showering/cleaning up and changing clothes.

Its also mighty damn uncomfortable on the ground, even taxiing with the doors open and power pushed up for additional airflow.

Now, I have no idea how effective the portable Arctic Air ice chest setups are...that might provide the best of both worlds in terms of maintaining useful load when you don't need it and being cool when you do need it, but they look like they take up a fair bit of baggage space which may or may not be a concern.

 

One of hangar mates has a C310 that he uses the Artic Air in and it works so well in the Louisiana heat and humidity that he is installing a Keith AC system in a few weeks.

His typical trip is 175nm and he says "the the ice box just doesn't cut it".

 

B36! Easily under 250k...used of course