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.

FMI: www.airwolf.com