Complete O2 Systems: Aeromedix is Top Value, excerpts from Aviation Consumer May 2008, By Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside
It’s no secret serious use of a personal airplane requires climbing far above pattern and practice altitudes where the air is thinner and true airspeeds peak. That, more than anything else, may explain the veritable explosion in complete, state-of-the-art portable oxygen systems and the accessories that go with them. If your airplane doesn’t have built-in oxygen, and the time and money to add it isn’t in the cards, you’re a prime candidate for a portable system. Total cost for a two-user system? Under $500. But if you usually carry more people or need a few bells and whistles, things start getting complicated: The choices available from some vendors can be almost as dizzying as five hours in the teens without O2.
The drawback of more than one person using an adjustable-flow regulator is everybody downstream of the regulator sees the same oxygen flow whether they need it or not. Aeromedix.com recognizes this and suggests its adjustable regulators are best for solo pilots or those who don’t need individual flow metering. If you don’t use an adjustable regulator, you’ll definitely need some way to control the flow to your mask or cannula.
Aeromedix.com offers a completely different flowmeter, machined out of a solid piece of acrylic and marked in liters per minute. It’s heavy and has relatively sharp edges, but it’s a work of art. It’s also better made than others we’ve seen and likely is all but immune to breaking when someone steps on it climbing in or out of your plane.
In our view, Aeromedix.com has the best deal going on a complete portable system using the E-size cylinder, which we prefer, a constant flow/fixed regulator. At only $495 for the two-person version, plus $25.95 for the carrying case, Aeromedix.com hands-down beats out all the other vendors, plus you get their virtually unbreakable flowmeters in the bargain.
Joe Hughes
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