Air America

Air America was an American paintball equipment manufacturer founded in 1990 by Dan Colby. Based in Illinois, the company specialised in compressed-air systems, pressure regulators, CO2 expansion chambers and air-filling equipment. Its best-known products included the Unireg, Raptor, Apocalypse and Armageddon systems. Air America was an early commercial supplier of high-pressure air (HPA) technology for tournament paintball, helping establish compressed air as an alternative to CO2.[1][2][3]

History

Establishment and early products

Air America was founded by Dan Colby in 1990. The company initially developed products intended to improve the consistency of CO2-powered paintball markers before expanding into compressed-air systems.[1]

Its early products included the Whispering Death expansion chamber and Unireg adjustable pressure regulator.[1]

The Unireg was introduced during the early 1990s and became one of the first widely available compressed-air regulator systems for paintball. It was commonly supplied with 3,000 psi cylinders and offered adjustable output pressures suitable for different paintball markers.[2]

Alongside Paintball Mania Supplies, Air America was among the earliest companies to promote compressed air as an alternative to CO2 for competitive paintball. Contemporary reporting credited both businesses with overcoming industry resistance to the adoption of HPA systems.[3]

Expansion during the 1990s

Air America expanded its compressed-air product range throughout the 1990s, developing systems capable of operating at 3,000 and 4,500 psi.

Its products included the Raptor and Raptor Rex regulator systems, along with the Apocalypse, which incorporated an adjustable regulator and integrated on/off control.[1]

The company also supported tournament players through on-site technical servicing and compressed-air equipment sponsorships. At the 1998 NPPL Las Vegas Open, Air America technicians provided maintenance services for players experiencing regulator problems caused by dust and other playing conditions.[4]

In 1999, Air America introduced the Armageddon compressed-air system. The product used a two-piece regulator assembly that allowed the cylinder to be detached from the main regulator body for separate filling. Armageddon systems were used by Air America-sponsored tournament teams at the 1999 Las Vegas event.[5]

Industry involvement

Air America was involved in tournament support and the development of compressed-air safety practices.

At the 2003 International Amateur Open, Dan Colby received a paintball industry Lifetime Achievement Award recognising his contributions to CO2 regulation, compressed-air systems and the adoption of HPA equipment.

Colby and Air America staff also presented a compressed-air safety workshop addressing filling procedures, equipment selection and accident prevention.[6]

Later history

Air America continued manufacturing regulators and compressed-air equipment during the 2000s.

The original company eventually ceased operating, although an independently verified closure date has not been established.

Dan Colby subsequently became involved in Guerrilla Air, which developed compressed-air products including the Ambush, Assault and Myth regulators.

Colby later established Immortal Air, which manufactures compressed-air equipment and supplies replacement components for certain original Air America regulators.[1][7][8]

Products

Air America developed a range of compressed-air equipment and accessories for paintball markers and commercial playing fields.

Air systems and regulators

Notable products included:

Unireg – Adjustable regulator system introduced during the early 1990s.
Raptor – Compressed-air regulator system associated with 3,000 psi cylinders.
Raptor Rex – Regulator system for 4,500 psi applications.
Apocalypse – Adjustable compressed-air system incorporating an integrated on/off control.
Armageddon – Two-piece compressed-air system allowing removal of the cylinder from the main regulator assembly.
Vigilante – Secondary inline regulator offered in high-pressure and low-pressure configurations.
Black Ice – Inline regulator product.
Abaddon – Regulator designed for tool-free adjustment.
Prophesy – Titanium regulator design.
Melee – Regulator designed for paintball air systems.[1][5][9]

CO2 equipment

Air America's early products included expansion chambers and regulators designed to reduce the effects of liquid CO2 entering paintball markers.

These included the Whispering Death and Black Rain expansion chamber systems.[1][10]

Filling equipment

Air America also produced equipment for commercial paintball fields, including:

Genesis – Pneumatic booster pump for compressed-air filling systems.
Regulated filling stations – Equipment for supplying compressed air at controlled pressures.
Unregulated filling stations – Filling equipment for appropriately configured compressed-air installations.[1]

Legacy

Air America was among the manufacturers involved in the transition from CO2 to compressed air in competitive paintball during the 1990s.

Its products contributed to the development of adjustable, high-flow regulators, removable-cylinder systems and commercial HPA filling equipment.[1][3]

The company's founder, Dan Colby, was inducted into the Paintball Hall of Fame in 2017.[1]

Although Air America no longer operates as its original business, its designs remain part of paintball equipment history. Immortal Air continues to provide selected replacement parts for Air America Unireg and HPA regulators.[7]

References

External links