Gippsland Aeronautics has been contracted to supply the US Civil Air Patrol (CAP) with the first of up to nine GA8 Airvan aircraft following a successful flight evaluation in Colorado.

The initial deal for the CAP, a civilian auxiliary unit of the US Air Force, includes two aircraft, with deposits on seven more due next year. Further options are expected for "at least" 25 GA8s, which will be modified to house radars, electro-optical and other surveillance devices with apertures up to 0.3m (1ft) in diameter. The CAP, which also evaluated other aircraft including the Cessna 206, is expected to enlarge its fleet with GA8s over the next five years, in line with its expanded homeland defence role.

To help support its US expansion, Gippsland has completed flight tests to certificate the GA8 to US Federal Aviation Administration FAR 23 Amendment 54 standards in December, and has appointed California-based Pacific Sunset Aviation as US distributor. Dubbed Airvan USA, the Van Nuys company will support the distribution and in-service operation of the GA8, sales of more than 16 of which have been booked to date in North America.

Production of the GA8 in Melbourne, Australia, is being increased to 35 aircraft a year, says Gippsland managing director Michael Hall, who adds the eventual plan will call for around 400 a year by 2007, with Pakistan among those negotiating to make the aircraft under licence. The deal is contingent on selection for the Pakistan military, and would involve the manufacture of around 15 aircraft a year for three years. Gippsland also plans to set up completion centres in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Indonesia and the USA, says Hall, who next year intends to demonstrate the GA8 in China and Europe.

Development of a stretched Rolls-Royce 250-B17F turboprop-powered GA8 is under way, with installation of the first engine in Australia. In addition to the 10-seater turboprop variant, named GA-10T Tasker, Gippsland has completed development of a Lycoming IO-580-powered version, which is available from December.

Source: Flight International