A new powerful and stretched version of Australia’s successful Airvan is due to be launched soon following a decision by Gippsland Aeronautics toward more power and more space along with more powerful engines.
The GA8 Airvan was designed to fit between the Cessna 206 and the Caravan, but customer demand is leading the manufacturer to think big.
"The ultimate aim for this is to stretch an increase in size and take it to ten seats," says co-founder and director George Morgan. He plans for only one pilot in what will be the GA10. Today's GA8 seats eight.
Its standard package includes a Lycoming I0-540-K1A5. Morgan says demand at the high end could be met by the Rolls-Royce B-17F2. "The hope is to have it certified by the end of next year," says Morgan. One step below in power is Lycoming's new 350 hp turbocharged engine. Certification on the Airvan won't take long, he says, "Because the program we've done for the 320 hp has already run the numbers up to 350," but first they need one to test. "They're promising that to us by the end of the year, but they've promised us a lot of things over the years."
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The Airvan is designed for short strips and utility work, with cargo space of 164 cubic feet, a normal cruise of 118 kts and typical range of 730nm over six hours.
"We're flying in 28 countries worldwide, primarily in tourist operations," says global sales manager Marguerite Morgan, "But also we're finding a market for humanitarian missionary work into areas with a poor infrastructure."
Gippsland also offers a two-seat GA200 Fatman, and preparation at headquarters in Victoria, Australia is underway to manufacture the
Nomad twin turboprop.
Boeing Australia Limited just sold certification authority for the aircraft that was designed in 1965. Gippsland Aeronautics chairman Gary Wight says "Demand for the Nomad could exceed 200 aircraft in the next 10 years.”
Source: Flight International