Effect of cockpit temperature gradients on the validity of single-point measurements

Dry bulb temperature was measured at six sites throughout seven sorties in F4E aircraft in a study of vertical and lateral cockpit temperature gradients designed to determine the validity of single-point measurements. The results show that both vertical and lateral gradients exist in F4E aircraft and that single-point measurements of Tdb close to the right shoulder show a bias of up to 4 degrees C in relation to mean cockpit dry bulb temperature derived from measurements at five sites. This bias may be removed by using the predictive relationships developed in this study. The relationship between black globe and dry bulb temperatures is also given for F4E aircraft flown in warm, sunny conditions.