Wipaire marks milestone

Wipaire, Inc. and Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) celebrated the delivery of the 100th set of Wipline 8750 floats on MAF's latest Cessna Caravan. First certified in July 2012, the Wipline 8750 float replaced Wipaire's long-running Wipline 8000 model. Upgrades from the Wipline 8000 to the Wipline 8750 include higher buoyancy, supporting a gross weight increase to 8,750 lbs./3,969 kg (a useful load increase of 390-750 lbs./177-340 kg), improved main gear design, and a new hull design for better rough water handling.

"We're excited to be here today to celebrate the delivery of our 100th set of Wipline 8750 floats. The widespread adoption of the Wipline 8750 is a testament to its quality engineering and manufacturing, as proven by operators in the field," noted Clint E. Clouatre, Vice President of Marketing & Sales. "It's an even greater honor to deliver this milestone set of floats to Mission Aviation Fellowship, who will use them to bring health, hope, and healing to vulnerable and remote communities across the globe. MAF has been a longtime operator of Wipline floats, choosing them for their quality and reliability in challenging environments around the world. We are proud to be delivering our second set of Caravan floats for MAF's fleet since 2017. As their organization expands and upgrades its fleet, we wish MAF all the best in their ongoing mission."

"Our relationship with Wipaire goes back many years, and we are proud to share in this historic moment. We look forward to putting this new Cessna Caravan to work in Papua, Indonesia," added Dave Rask, MAF's Director of Aviation Resources. "With 14 different aircraft types and a fleet of more than 125 aircraft, selecting the right airplane and floats for the mission is key. The Cessna Caravan is a hard-working plane. It's proven, modern, and well-supported around the world-just like the Wipline 8750 floats it now sits on. Wipaire's dedication to innovation, quality, reliability, and global support make operating in challenging environments possible."

About Mission Aviation Fellowship

Mission Aviation Fellowship has been bringing physical and spiritual transformation to the world's most isolated communities through aviation since 1945. Operating a fleet of over 125 aircraft in 37 countries around the world, MAF provides medevac flights, delivers humanitarian aid, and supports the work of churches, missionaries, medical groups, and relief organizations. MAF aircraft recently responded to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and provided assistance following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean. Each year, the organization flies over four million nautical miles, supporting some 2,000 partner organizations and hauling more than 12.4 million lbs. of cargo.