Fri, Jan 31, 2003
Unison Industries is proud and happy that Robinson Helicopter
Company is equipping its new line of R44 Raven II helicopters with
the SlickSTART™ magneto start booster. Robinson is the
world's leading supplier of civil helicopters.
Like a magneto, only better...
SlickSTART is a magneto start booster that uses solid-state
electronics with capacitive discharge technology to improve the
performance of engines with poor starting characteristics.
SlickSTART improves aircraft engine starting by delivering up to
340% more spark energy to an aircraft's spark plugs than
conventional impulse coupled or retard breaker magneto systems. By
increasing the spark energy and the number of spark events each
second, SlickSTART boosts the magneto's electrical output to
overcome hard starting issues caused by fouled spark plugs, poor
priming, hot engine restarts, and extreme cold weather conditions.
Other direct benefits of SlickSTART for the aircraft operator
include reduced electrical stress on starter motors and batteries
and improved dispatch capability of the aircraft under conditions
likely to result in hard starting.
The
new R44 Raven II uses a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540 engine, for
more power and increased altitude performance; and it sports a
28-volt electrical system.
"We are extremely pleased that Robinson Helicopter has decided
to equip their new line of R44 Raven II helicopters with
SlickSTART," said Jim Melvin, Unison's director of marketing.
"Helicopter operators know that engine starting problems are
time-consuming, frustrating, and costly. SlickSTART, standard
equipment on the new Raven II, will alleviate the dilemma of
hard-to-start helicopter engines. Raven II operators will
particularly benefit from SlickSTART's capability to overcome hot
starts on fuel-injected engines."
Upward/Downward compatibility:
SlickSTART is STC-approved for installation on airframes and
engines equipped with most models of Slick and TCM/Bendix magnetos.
SlickSTART P/N SS1001 is used with the Slick 4200/6200 and the
latest model Slick 4300/6300 series magnetos, but is not approved
for use with older 4000/4100 or 400/600 series magnetos. SlickSTART
P/N SS1002 is approved for all TCM/Bendix 20/200 and 1200 series
magnetos, but is not approved for the Bendix D2000/D3000 series of
dual magnetos. For most aircraft equipped with an existing starting
vibrator, the SlickSTART can be bolted right in place of
existing
equipment. For new installations, the SlickSTART can easily be
mounted to the aircraft firewall. Both SlickSTART part numbers can
be used with either 12- or 24 -volt aircraft electrical
systems.
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