Systems and methods for providing airflow in an aerospace vehicle are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment includes an aerospace vehicle having an interior volume with a first portion and a second portion. The system can further include an external air supply device positioned to provide supply air to the interior volume at a variable supply flow rate and a recirculation fan configured to move air positioned within the interior volume between the first portion of the interior volume and the second portion of the interior volume. The system can still further include a controller operably coupled to the recirculation fan and configured to vary a rotation speed of the recirculation fan. Variations in the rotation speed of the recirculation fan can be associated with variations in a recirculation flow rate. In selected embodiments, the system can include sensors and/or data link devices operably coupled to the controller.