To provide a means of carrying food aboard A2F aircraft, semi rigid food storage containers with a zippered closure were developed. One set of food storage containers consists of an insulated food storage container for carrying and storing chilled foods, and an electrically heated food storage container for carrying and storing hot foods. The set of food storage containers can be stored aboard the aircraft in a portion of the map case assembly made available for this purpose. Each food storage container has a capacity of six collapsible aluminum tubes — each tube used for storage of 5 ounces of semisolid food or six plastic squeeze bottles — each bottle used for storage of 5 ounces of beverage or any combination of six tubes and bottles. When the insulated food container was filled with five foods or beverages prechilled to 39°F, plus one beverage frozen to act as a latent heat sink, the prechilled foods and beverages rose to a temperature of 54°F. and the frozen beverage rose to a temperature of 34°F. in 6 hours. In the heated food storage container, preheated foods and beverages attained an equilibrium temperature of 137°F.;foods and beverages at about 75°F. required about 2-1/2 hours to attain a serving temperature of about 120°F. Recommendations were made for providing a larger access opening, a handle, and improved insulation in the food containers.
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