WIPAIRE.qxp_GA 13/03/2021 18:59 Page 1
Wipaire Floats Just Keep Taking Off! For over 60 years, Wipaire has been engineering and manufacturing a full line of aircraft floats for all sizes of aircraft, from the Piper Cub to the Viking Twin Otter, including most single-engine Cessna aircraft. It celebrated 60 years of building Wipline floats in 2020. In that time, Wipaire has established more than 100 Supplemental Type Certificated (STC’d) modifications “for improved performance, convenience, and reliability.” “As a leading aircraft service provider, Wipaire offers maintenance, avionics installation and repair, custom interior design and installation, and exterior paint refinishing all in one convenient location. Wipaire is recognised worldwide for quality products and engineering expertise,” said the company.
Aircraft Sales International aircraft purchase can be difficult, so Wipaire’s experienced aircraft sales team is available for importing and exporting — allowing for a worry-free transaction for both buyers and sellers. It handles all inquiries and filter the ‘tyre-kickers’ from qualified buyers. It brokers both wheeled and floated aircraft. With a network developed over 60 years, the company claims to be able to “put your aircraft in front of potential buyers worldwide.” Wipaire says it can assist with: contract preparation; FAA title search; FAA lien releases; International Registry (to include Cape Town applicable); Bill of Sale documents; Registration Number reservation or withholdings; International Fly wires; FAA de-registration; or any legal documents required to complete your sale.
History of Wipaire Ben Wiplinger was the creator of Wipline floats. He studied aerospace engineering in the 1940s before moving to California to work for Douglas Aircraft. After WWII, Ben started Wiplinger Aircraft Service, an FBO offering fuel service, aircraft sales, maintenance, restoration and upholstery at South St. Paul Airport, Minnesota. Ben purchased his first seaplane in 1951 and began flying north on fishing expeditions. He developed an improved hydraulic system for his Edo 14 TURBINE BUYER EUROPE APRIL 2021
floats. In 1959, Ben sold his FBO business and in 1960 he incorporated Wipline Inc and set to work creating his first set of floats. He purchased a Cessna 185 to test them. To create a better float Ben worked with experts at 3M to develop a metal bonding technique that would allow him to use fewer rivets and therefore achieve a smoother and lighter float. It took three years and $8,000 to get the patent on this process. Another innovative idea was the flat top on the float. This allowed pilot and passengers to get in and out of the airplane with much less risk of taking an impromptu swim! In 1962 he sold his first set of floats, to Ontario Central Airlines. Soon the Cessna 185 was Certified on 3700 and 3900 floats followed by the 206 on 3700, 3900 and 3730’s. The Wipline Inc facilities were all located on Fleming Field and produced around 30 sets of floats in the first ten years. In 1971, after Ben purchased 160 acres of land along the Mississippi River. Float manufacturing moved down to the River Road facility and the seaplane base was established. In 1974 Ben’s son Bob expanded the range of services by founding Wipaire, Inc., performing maintenance as a certified Cessna service centre at Fleming Field. Wipline, Inc. and Wipaire, Inc. came together in 1979 when Bob purchased Wipline Inc from Ben. During the late seventies they decided to tackle “a huge project”, the Nomad. Though the Nomad Aircraft had a short production run and only resulted in a few sales the design for the Nomad float opened the door to other larger scale projects and became the foundation for the popular Wipline 8000 Float. 1982 saw the introduction of the Wipline 6000 for the de Havilland Beaver. More than ten modifications to the Beaver were introduced over the next few years, allowing Wipaire to transform the Beaver to “a true Seaplane workhorse”. In 1988, the Wipline 8000 floats for the Cessna Caravan were released. This was one of the company’s most popular float models until it was superseded by the Wipline 8750 float. By the mid-80’s Wipaire Inc. had grown to 35 employees and had sold 700 sets of floats.
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