Thanks for the info Mark and Jai Pal. I’m more used to paraglider specs than HVAC, but gather that each of the unit’s outdoor compressor will consume 9.3 A at startup (LRA: Locked Rotor Amps) and 7.2 A after during use (RLA: Rated Load Amps), with a fan adding 0.5 A. If operating with 115 V, we are looking at about 886 W (= 115 V x 7.2+0.5 A) continuous for each outdoor unit. Not sure how much the indoor unit fan consumes, but guessing we are around 1000 W for each unit (outdoor+indoor). So around 2000 W total for 2 A/C units.

Must learn to “go with the flow” and worry less. Knowing we have experts in each field helps trusting this project is in good hands.

Thank you Jai Pal, for answering my question about solar panel quantity/surface. Info like this is helpful.

You also bring up a good point that options 3 & 4 are near identical, which increases the percentage of voters who chose a similar design.

This conversation and sharing of details is good.

An idea for more people to help financially… Add the possibility to pre-pay 5-10 years of membership to temporarily boost club funds?

Hi Jai Pal, today Tim shed light on the master plan… That the inside of the building could be air conditioned and that power be drawn from solar panels you are donating. Sounds like a possible solution and thank you for your generous donation to the club !

What is your calculation for how much solar panel surface is needed to cool the enclosed volume on a 100+ °F day? Are we trying to cool the air for people staying inside (why stay inside?), or just equipment not to overheat?

Thank you Jai Pal. Aside from the pleasing esthetics, why would we want so much glass?

From the inside, it would provide an outside view if people spent time there, but unless there is climate control (ongoing cost), being hotter inside would prevent staying there during summer (not a classroom). Natural light during daytime will avoid turning on a light, but we still need lighting for nighttime.

From the outside, it removes a sense of privacy for those inside, which can be good for security. But it also reveals the contents and may entice looters to return, if anything of value is visible.

How about… Minimize the use of glass, only have some high (above eye level) windows.

Pros: Light can enter during daytime. Not as easy for looters to look inside. Less window cleaning. Reduced exposure to vandalism (fragile windows). Less expensive.

Cons: Not as pretty.

Still wondering if combining location for storage and shade-for-people is effective. Having club item storage off the LZ surface would… Provide a greater percentage of usable shade area for people under a given roof size, and allow more airflow under the roof to minimize downwind turbulence. Is it too late to review the concept, are we locked in at this point?

Yes there are concerns: Funding amount and time, investing on land not owned by the club, construction time, possible downwind turbulence. But…

Aside from donating, the next best thing we can do is be optimistic and supportive of those working on the project. It is great to have professionals donating their time, effort and equipment like Jai Pal Khalsa, Dan Deweese, Jim Borgman, GoldenBridge. Thank you!

In the meantime, it is fun to see our dysfunctional “family” of pilots huddle together under a small shade area. :-)

Question for Jai Pal… Looking at the concept drawing, there seems to be glass doors/walls. Will these be shatter-proof glass or plastic?