Says Operators Don't Need To Be Grounded For Long
On the heels of a February 15, 2008 Service Letter 72 to all
operators of Parker/Airborne dry vacuum pumps on piston engines,
mandating immediate removal of these units, Airwolf Filter Corp
advises its wet-vacuum pumps are available immediately for
operation of gyros (Series 200) and de-icing boots (Series
400).
"Six years ago, Parker/Airborne ceased manufacture of its line
of dry pumps and advised that the units would have a mandatory
replacement time of six years," said Airwolf's John Kochy. "Now the
six years are up, and we have the obvious, effective and immediate
solution."
Airwolf wet pumps, unlike dry pumps, are virtually
indestructible and are so reliable the company extends a 2,000
hour/ten-year warranty on each unit. A small amount of engine oil
is injected into the vacuum pump during normal operation,
lubricating all its moving parts.
"Dry vacuum pumps are very unreliable," Kochy explained. "Unlike
any other aircraft component, most dry pumps usually fail well
before TBO - pilots have come to expect it. This is a serious
safety issue for pilots who depend on their gyros and de-icing
boots. And, it's the reason Parker/Airborne exited the
business."
Airwolf's 200 and 400 Series wet pumps replace all equivalent
series dry pumps, regardless of the original manufacturer, as well
as all long out-of-production wet pumps by Pesco, Garwin, Bendix
and ARO. Airwolf wet pumps are direct replacements for all existing
pumps, with no modifications necessary for installation.
Airwolf wet vacuum pumps are
machined from aluminum billet and employ cast-iron liners, and
precision ball bearings superior to those used in dry pumps. The
soft, oil-impregnated graphite vanes are robust - four times
thicker than those in dry pumps, and in operation are lubricated by
a thin mist of oil from the crankcase. The result is a pump that is
virtually failsafe.
Computer-aided manufacturing allows Airwolf to meet tighter
tolerances and more accurately machined chambers and vanes than was
possible on pumps designed more than 40 years ago.
Airwolf Filter Corp. is the world's leading manufacture of
remote-mounted oil filter systems for aero engines. STC'd and
certificated on all Lycoming, Continental, and Franklin, as well as
radial engines by Pratt & Whitney, Warner, Jacobs, Wright and
Continental, the systems are also original equipment on Aviat
Husky, Pitts and American Champion as well as Maule aircraft.
Airwolf systems are endorsed and recommended by engine overhaul
shops such as Covington, Air Repair, Penn Yan, Mattituck, G&N,
Aero Engines, Aero Recip, Aircraft Cylinder & Turbine, Sun Air
Parts, Tulsa Aircraft Engines, Barrett Performance Engines and
Victor Engines. The company is also the only manufacturer of new
wet vacuum pumps for the general aviation market.