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.

FMI: www.unisonindustries.com, www.robinsonheli.com