Gippsland GA8

GA8 Airvan
The prototype GA8 Airvan in front of the Latrobe Valley Aero Club circa 1999
Role	Utility aircraft/Transport
National origin	Australia
Manufacturer	Mahindra Gippsland Aeronautics
First flight	3 March 1995
Introduction	December 2000
Primary user	United States Civil Air Patrol
Produced	2000–present
Variants	Gippsland GA10

The Gippsland GA8 Airvan is a single-engined utility aircraft manufactured by Gippsland Aeronautics 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 Caravan models. It is used in various roles, including passenger service, freight, sightseeing, parachuting, observation, and search & rescue.

As of September 2011, 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.

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

A Civil Air Patrol GA8 Airvan on takeoff during a mission following Hurricane Rita in 2005.

• The Civil Air Patrol operates 18 Airvans for Search and Rescue operations, of which 16 carry the Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance (ARCHER) system, which can be used to search for aircraft wreckage based on its spectral signature.
• Mission Aviation Fellowship Australia operates eleven Airvans, providing air-transport services in developing countries.
• The Lesotho Defence Force 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 Air - Queenstown, New Zealand -

• Kakadu Air - Arnhem Land, Australia -

• KammAir BV - Rotterdam, Netherlands -

• Mission Aviation Fellowship - 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 Air - New Zealand -

• Shoal Air - Kununurra, Western Australia

• Skydive Ireland - Birr Co. Offaly -

• Skydive London - Swindon, UK -

• Soundsair - New Zealand -

• Tandem Skydive - Airlie Beach, Queensland. -

• The Parachute School - Skydive Euroa - Euroa, Victoria, Australia -

• Tropic Air - 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

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 7 passengers
• Length: 8.95 m (29 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 12.28 m (40 ft 3 in)
• Height: 3.89 m (12 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 19.32 m² (208.0 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 7.9:1
• Empty weight: 997 kg (2,198 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,814 kg (3,999 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 340 L (74.8 Imp Gallons)
• Powerplant: 1 × Textron Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 air-cooled flat-six, 220 kW (300 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell F8475R constand speed propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 241 km/h (150 mph; 130 kn) at 1,525 m (5,000 ft)
• Cruising speed: 222 km/h (138 mph; 120 kn) at 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
• Stall speed: 97 km/h (60 mph; 52 kn) (flaps down)
• Range: 1,352 km (840 mi; 730 nmi)
• Endurance: 6 hr
• Service ceiling: 6,100 m (20,013 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.00 m/s (788 ft/min)

See also

Related development

• Gippsland GA10
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Cessna 206
• Cessna 208
• Gavilán G358
  

References

• Jackson, Paul (2003). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0 7106 2537 5. 

External links

• [1]
• 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