Cabin Pressure Control Systems for General Aviation Aircraft

This paper presents a brief history of early cabin pressure control systems commencing with the Boeing B-29 and culminating with commercial transports of the immediate post-WW II era. The two most significant control and outflow valve design breakthroughs applicable to post-1950 commercial and general aviation cabin pressure control systems are analyzed. The first production-model general aviation aircraft cabin pressure control system is described and followed by a discussion of the state of the art of general aviation reciprocating and jet engine aircraft cabin pressure control systems through 1978. An advanced-design automated microprocessor digital cabin pressure control system applicable to new-generation jet aircraft also is presented, with consideration of future cabin pressure control systems for reciprocating and jet-type general aviation aircraft.