Editing Dan Colby (section)

== High-pressure air development ==

=== Transition from CO2 ===

The development of HPA systems was an important technological change in paintball.

CO2 had been widely used since the sport's early years.

As markers became more sophisticated and firing rates increased, compressed air became increasingly attractive to competitive players.

=== Pressure regulation ===

High-pressure air systems require regulators to reduce cylinder pressure to an appropriate operating pressure for the marker.

Regulator performance affects pressure consistency and air delivery.

Colby's companies developed numerous products addressing these requirements.

=== 3000 psi systems ===

Early paintball HPA systems commonly used cylinders rated to 3000 psi.

Air America's Uni-Reg and Raptor products were associated with this generation of equipment.

=== 4500 psi systems ===

Higher-pressure systems later became increasingly common.

Air America developed equipment for 4500 psi operation, including the Raptor Rex.

The adoption of higher-pressure cylinders allowed more compressed air to be stored in a given cylinder volume.

=== Field filling infrastructure ===

The spread of HPA required more than marker-mounted regulators.

Paintball fields and tournament organisers needed compressors, storage systems, boosters, filling stations and appropriate operating procedures.

Colby's work extended into this infrastructure.