Gippsland hopes for certification by year-end as utility aircraft pursues air show circuit
Australian manufacturer Gippsland Aeronautics is in the final stages of developmental flight testing of a turbocharged version of its GA8 Airvan utility aircraft ahead of launching the flight-test programme towards certification. Progress comes as the manufacturer secures a number of new sales around the world.
Gippsland launched development of a turbocharged variant of the Airvan in 2005 in response to market interest. The aircraft is fitted with a turbocharged version of the Lycoming TIO 540 engine that also powers the standard Airvan.
The manufacturer is hoping to achieve certification of the variant before the end of the year, with a lot of interest coming from the North American market and particularly parachute operators, says Gippsland.
Existing customer the Mission Aviation Fellowship is also interested in the turbocharged version for operation in Papua New Guinea.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer says that a number of sales of the Airvan are imminent in India after a successful Aero India 2007 show. Indian DGCA certification of the aircraft is expected shortly. The manufacturer is also discussing a distributorship in the country.
Following the Aero India show, a Hansa 4 light aircraft has been shipped by India's National Aerospace Laboratory to Australia, where it will be assembled by Gippsland at its Latrobe, Victoria facility for display at this month's Australian International Air Show in Avalon, Victoria.
Late last year Gippsland rolled out its 100th Airvan. Recent deliveries have been made to Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Hawaii. Further sales are being finalised in Australia, Europe, Central and South America, says Gippsland
US manufacturer Liberty Aerospace has delivered the first Australian registered XL-2 to a private owner based in Melbourne.
Source: Flight International
