A vertically stowable aircraft storage unit for providing additional storage in a cabin area of an aircraft, the stowable aircraft storage unit comprising: a storage compartment comprising a bottom panel , two side panels, and a rear panel; a vacuum lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the storage unit between a stowed position and a deployed position, the vacuum lift mechanism comprising at least one vacuum actuator , and an air manifold in fluid communication with a vacuum source, the air manifold configured to provide vacuum and venting to the at least one vacuum actuator ; and an overhead mounting frame for mounting the vacuum lift mechanism to an upper structure of an interior of the aircraft; and a storage compartment frame configured to releasably receive the storage compartment; wherein the vacuum lift mechanism is releasably attached, at an upper end, to the overhead mounting frame ; and wherein the vacuum lift mechanism is releasably attached, at a lower end, to the storage compartment frame ; characterized in that the vertically stowable aircraft storage unit comprises a manual override mechanism for lifting and lowering the storage unit in the event of failure of the vacuum lift mechanism, the manual override mechanism comprising: a rotary-to-linear drive mechanism ; a manual control mechanism for operating the rotary-to-linear drive mechanism ; and a manual override mounting frame for releasably mounting the manual override mechanism between the overhead mounting frame and the storage compartment frame . a storage compartment comprising a bottom panel , two side panels, and a rear panel; a vacuum lift mechanism for lifting and lowering the storage unit between a stowed position and a deployed position, the vacuum lift mechanism comprising at least one vacuum actuator , and an air manifold in fluid communication with a vacuum source, the air manifold configured to provide vacuum and venting to the at least one vacuum actuator ; and at least one vacuum actuator , and an air manifold in fluid communication with a vacuum source, the air manifold configured to provide vacuum and venting to the at least one vacuum actuator ; and an overhead mounting frame for mounting the vacuum lift mechanism to an upper structure of an interior of the aircraft; and a storage compartment frame configured to releasably receive the storage compartment; wherein the vacuum lift mechanism is releasably attached, at an upper end, to the overhead mounting frame ; and wherein the vacuum lift mechanism is releasably attached, at a lower end, to the storage compartment frame ; characterized in that the vertically stowable aircraft storage unit comprises a manual override mechanism for lifting and lowering the storage unit in the event of failure of the vacuum lift mechanism, the manual override mechanism comprising: a rotary-to-linear drive mechanism ; a manual control mechanism for operating the rotary-to-linear drive mechanism ; and a manual override mounting frame for releasably mounting the manual override mechanism between the overhead mounting frame and the storage compartment frame . a rotary-to-linear drive mechanism ; a manual control mechanism for operating the rotary-to-linear drive mechanism ; and a manual override mounting frame for releasably mounting the manual override mechanism between the overhead mounting frame and the storage compartment frame . <EOS>