Back in the day, aircraft manufactures had the smart idea of using outside ram air to pump cooling air into the radio stack. The ram air is captured through an outside vent often placed on the leading edge of a wing. While the idea was grand, it was far from efficient and can be damaging to modern gear. Avionics manufacturers now frown on the design, and for good reasons. First, when flying through heavy rain, the potential for inducing water into the scat hoses is a major concern. We've seen our share of radio cases coated with corrosion and ugly green crust due to water ingestion. And damage aside, it's hardly effective cooling. Outside ram cooling is useless when the aircraft is stationary, like when you're sitting in a baking run-up area waiting for clearance on a 90-degree day.
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