Gippsland GA8
Encyclopedia
The Gippsland GA8 Airvan is a single-engined utility aircraft
manufactured by Gippsland Aeronautics
of Victoria, Australia. It can seat eight including one pilot.
models. It is used in various roles, including passenger service, freight, sightseeing, parachuting, observation, and search & rescue.
, at least 159 Airvans had been produced and delivered.
A turbocharged version of the aircraft was in planning from 2004, and the prototype turbocharged aircraft commenced flight testing in October 2006. In February 2009, Gippsland Aeronautocs announced that the Australian Civil Aviation Authority had issued an amendment to the GA8 type certificate to cover the turbocharged variant. This version is designated as the GA8-TC320 and is powered by a 320 HP Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A Turbocharged Fuel Injected Engine. The first deliveries took place in February 2009, with several GA8 TC-320 Airvans delivered to customers in Australia and New Zealand.
A turboprop
derivative of the GA8, the GA10
, is also being developed. It is a slightly stretched 10-seat capacity aircraft powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-B17F/2 turboprop engine. It is planned to retain as much parts commonality with the GA8 as possible.
A floatplane
version has been considered by the manufacturer and is awaiting certification of the turbocharged engine version.
As of September 2010 testing and development has begun for a 200 lb increase in MTOW, due to be certified in the form of a STC
estimated December 2010.
Utility aircraft
A utility aircraft is a general-purpose light plane or helicopter, usually used for transporting people or freight, but also for other duties when a more specialised aircraft is not required or available....
manufactured by Gippsland Aeronautics
Gippsland Aeronautics
Gippsland Aeronautics are an Australian aircraft manufacturer based at Latrobe Valley Airport in Morwell, Victoria. The company builds single-engined utility aircraft. These include the GA8 Airvan and the GA200 Fatman. The company is owned by Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group...
of Victoria, Australia. It can seat eight including one pilot.
Development
The aircraft was designed to fill a market niche perceived by the manufacturer between the Cessna 206 and CaravanCessna 208
The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
models. It is used in various roles, including passenger service, freight, sightseeing, parachuting, observation, and search & rescue.
, at least 159 Airvans had been produced and delivered.
A turbocharged version of the aircraft was in planning from 2004, and the prototype turbocharged aircraft commenced flight testing in October 2006. In February 2009, Gippsland Aeronautocs announced that the Australian Civil Aviation Authority had issued an amendment to the GA8 type certificate to cover the turbocharged variant. This version is designated as the GA8-TC320 and is powered by a 320 HP Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A Turbocharged Fuel Injected Engine. The first deliveries took place in February 2009, with several GA8 TC-320 Airvans delivered to customers in Australia and New Zealand.
A turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
derivative of the GA8, the GA10
Gippsland GA10
-See also:-External links:*...
, is also being developed. It is a slightly stretched 10-seat capacity aircraft powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-B17F/2 turboprop engine. It is planned to retain as much parts commonality with the GA8 as possible.
A floatplane
Floatplane
A floatplane is a type of seaplane, with slender pontoons mounted under the fuselage; only the floats of a floatplane normally come into contact with water, with the fuselage remaining above water...
version has been considered by the manufacturer and is awaiting certification of the turbocharged engine version.
As of September 2010 testing and development has begun for a 200 lb increase in MTOW, due to be certified in the form of a STC
STC
- Education :* S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia, a private school in Sri Lanka* South Texas College* South Thames College* Sha Tin College, Hong Kong* Saint Theresa's College, Philippines- Organizations :* Scarborough Town Centre* Space Transport Corporation...
estimated December 2010.
Operational history
One GA8 became the first Australian designed and manufactured aircraft to fly around the world, raising funds for malaria awareness. It was piloted by Australian pilots, Ken Evers and Tim Pryse who took off from Bendigo Australia on 8 May 2010, flying over several malaria endemic countries, before returning to Bendigo on 8 July 2010.Operators
- The Civil Air PatrolCivil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
operates 18 Airvans for Search and RescueSearch and rescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
operations, of which 16 carry the Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced ReconnaissanceAirborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced ReconnaissanceThe Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance, also known by the acronym ARCHER, is an aerial imaging system that produces ground images far more detailed than plain sight or ordinary aerial photography can....
(ARCHER) system, which can be used to search for aircraft wreckage based on its spectral signature. - Mission Aviation FellowshipMission Aviation FellowshipMission Aviation Fellowship is a Christian organization that provides aviation, communications, and learning technology services to more than 1,000 Christian and humanitarian agencies, as well as thousands of isolated missionaries and indigenous villagers in the world's most remote areas...
Australia operates eleven Airvans, providing air-transport services in developing countries. - The Lesotho Defence ForceLesotho Defence ForceThe Lesotho Defence Force is the army and Air Wing of Lesotho.There is no conscription in Lesotho.Of 400,457 males age 18-49, the CIA estimates 162,857 are fit for military service.Military expenditures: $32.3 million...
for supply flights to small airfields. - - German regional airline Ostfriesische Lufttransport
- Air freight solutions - Bathurst, NSW, Australia
- TGS Air Charter Service
- Air Fraser Island - Urangan, Queensland - Australia -
- Air Safaris - Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. -
- AAA Charter - Jabiru, Australia. -
- AirVentures Hawaii - Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, USA -
- Alligator Airways - Kununurra, Western Australia. -
- Commando Skydivers - Tooradin, Victoria, Australia -
- Deccan Aviation Lanka - Rathmalana, Sri Lanka -
- Glenorchy AirGlenorchy AirGlenorchy Air is a scenic flight and air charter company based at Queenstown Airport, New Zealand. The company is owned by Janet and Robert Rutherford who founded it in 1992. The company was started with just one aeroplane, a Cessna 185, registration ZK CHK. With the expansion of the business, a...
- Queenstown, New Zealand -
- Kakadu Air - Arnhem Land, Australia -
- KammAir BV - Rotterdam, Netherlands -
- Mission Aviation FellowshipMission Aviation FellowshipMission Aviation Fellowship is a Christian organization that provides aviation, communications, and learning technology services to more than 1,000 Christian and humanitarian agencies, as well as thousands of isolated missionaries and indigenous villagers in the world's most remote areas...
- Australia & Papua New Guinea-
- Maya Island Air - Belize -
- Moremi Air - Maun, Botswana
- Nyassa Air Taxi - Malaŵi -
- Paradise Air - San Jose, Costa Rica -
- Natron Air - Soldotna, Alaska -
- TGS Air Charter Services (Tooradin Flying School) Victoria, Australia -
- Rani Air - Mozambique.-
- Romanian Airclub - Romania -
- Safari Air - Maun, Botswana -
- Salt AirSalt AirSalt Air is a New Zealand airline based in Paihia in the Bay of Islands. The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand...
- New Zealand -
- Shoal AirShoal AirShoal Air is an air charter company based in Kununurra, Western Australia, Australia. It specialises in corporate and community air charter for the remote communities of the Western Australian Kimberley Region. It was established and started operations in its current form in 2002...
- Kununurra, Western Australia
- Skydive Ireland - Nenagh Co. Tipperary -
- Skydive London - SwindonSwindonSwindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, UK -
- Soundsair - New Zealand -
- Tandem Skydive - Airlie Beach, Queensland. -
- Tropic AirTropic AirFounded in 1979 by John Greif III with just a single airplane and two employees, Tropic has steadilygrown to become the largest and most experienced airline in Belize...
- Belize.
- Wings Over Whales - Kaikoura, New Zealand. -
- Wings Over Wilderness - Vanderhoof, BC, Canada -
- Wrights Air - William Creek, South Australia. -
- Geraldton Air Charter - Geraldton, Western Australia -
Specifications
See also
External links
- http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Mahindra-GippsAero-GA8-TC-320-Airvan-makes-maiden-landing-in-Mumbai/5086679059
- Gippsland Aeronautics Official Site
- GA October 2006 newsletter
- CASA Australia Type Certificate and Type Certificate Data Sheet
- FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet
- Specs & Photo at Flugzeuginfo.net