GippsAero GA8 Airvan

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GA8 Airvan
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Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 Airvan
Role Utility aircraft/Transport
National origin Australia
Manufacturer GippsAero
First flight 3 March 1995
Introduction December 2000
Primary user United States Civil Air Patrol
Produced 2000–present
Number built 210+[1]
Variants Gippsland GA10

The Gippsland GA8 Airvan is a single-engined utility aircraft manufactured by GippsAero (formerly named Gippsland Aeronautics) of Victoria, Australia. It can seat eight, including the pilot.

Development

File:GippslandGA8pod.jpg
GA8 with baggage pod
File:ProtoLVAC.jpg
The prototype GA8 Airvan circa 1999
File:Mahindra GA-8.jpg
GA-8 with floats

The aircraft was designed to fill a market niche perceived by the manufacturer between the Cessna 206 and Cessna 208 models, with seating for four and up to fourteen passengers respectively.[2] It is used in various roles, including passenger services; freight; sightseeing; parachuting; observation and search and rescue.

As of June 2013, 200 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 Aeronautics 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.[3]

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.[4] It is planned to retain as many common parts with the GA8 as possible.

A floatplane version has also been considered by the manufacturer.[5]

In December 2010, a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) was issued to the manufacturer for a 200 lb. increase in MTOW.

At EAA Oshkosh 2014, the GA8 Airvan was officially renamed as Mahindra Airvan 8.[6]

Operational history

One GA8 Airvan, VH-BYI, 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, Victoria, Australia on 8 May 2010. After flying 27,675 nautical miles for over 263 flight hours and burning over 16,000 litres of Avgas, the two men returned to Bendigo 62 days after take-off, landing at 2:33pm on 10 July 2010.[7][8] Their flight took them through several malaria endemic countries, and their charity "Millions Against Malaria" continues to work in malaria-plagued areas such as Papua New Guinea.[9]

Operators

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

Civil

The GA8 is popular with air charter companies, skydiving operators and small feeder air carriers. Larger operators include the US Civil Air Patrol which flies 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.[10]

Military

Specifications

File:Ga83view.jpg
Top and side view
File:Mahindra-GA8.jpg
Airvan interior

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[12]

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 constant 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
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Jackson 2003, p. 6.
Bibliography
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External links

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