Gippsland GA8

infobox Aircraft
name = GA8 Airvan

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caption= The prototype GA8 Airvan in front of the Latrobe Valley Aero Club circa 1999
type = Utility aircraft
national origin = Australia
manufacturer = Gippsland Aeronautics
first flight = 1996
produced = 2000–present
introduced = December 2000
retired =
primary user = United States Civil Air Patrol
number= more than 100
unit cost =
variants with their own articles =

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 gap perceived by the manufacturer between the Cessna 206 and Caravan models. [ [http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=13&article_id=553&page_number=1 Flying Magazine, May 2005] ] It is used in various roles, including passenger service, freight, sightseeing, parachuting, observation, and search & rescue.

More than 100 Airvans have been produced and delivered as of March 2007.Fact|date=July 2008

A floatplane version has been considered by the manufacturer but is awaiting certification of a more powerful turbocharged engine. [ [http://www.gippsaero.com/article.asp-articleID=481.htm GA News Media Archives] ]

A turbocharged version of the aircraft has been planned since 2004. In October 2006 Gippsland Aeronautics announced that the turbocharged prototype aircraft has commenced flight testing. The chosen engine is the Lycoming TIO 540 AH1A, which is a turbocharged version of the currently installed piston engine powerplant.

Operators

* The American 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. [ [http://www.maf.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=140&Itemid=195 MAF web-page] ]
* The Lesotho Defence Forces for supply flights to small airfields.
* German regional airline Ostfriesische Lufttransport [ [http://www.olt.de/index.php?id=312&L=0 Airline web-page] ]
* TGS Air Charter Service [ [http://www.tgsaircharter.com.au/ Operator web-site] ]

* Air Fraser Island - Urangan, Queensland - Australia - [ [http://www.airfraserisland.com.au Official Site] ]

* Air Safaris - Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. - [ [http://www.airsafaris.co.nz Official Site] ]

* Alligator Airways - Kununurra, Western Australia. - [ [http://www.alligatorairways.com.au Official Site] ]

* Commando Skydivers - Tooradin, Victoria, Australia - [ [http://www.commandoskydivers.com.au Commandos Official Site] ]

* Glenorchy Air - Queenstown, New Zealand - [ [http://www.glenorchy.net.nz Official Site] ]

* Kakadu Air - Arnhem Land, Australia - [ [http://www.kakaduair.com.au Official Site] ]

* KammAir BV - Rotterdam, Netherlands - [ [http://www.kammair.nl Official Site] ]

* Mission Aviation Fellowship - Australia & Papua New Guinea- [ [http://www.maf.org.au Official Site] ]
* Maya Island Air - Belize - [ [http://www.mayaislandair.com Official Site] ]
* Paradise Air - San Jose, Costa Rica - [ [http://www.flywithparadise.com Official Site] ]

* Natron Air - Soldotna, Alaska - [ [http://www.NatronAir.com Official Site] ]

* TGS Air Charter Services (Tooradin Flying School) Victoria, Australia - [ [http://www.tooradinflyingschool.com.au Official Site] ]

* Rani Air - Mozambique.- [ [http://www.raniresorts.com Official Site] ]

* Safari Air - Maun, Botswana - [ [http://www.desertdelta.co.za/safari-air-botswana_2.html Official Site] ]

* Shoal Air - Kununurra, Western Australia

* Soundsair - New Zealand - [ [http://www.soundsair.com Official Site] ]

* Tandem Skydive - Airlie Beach, Queensland. - [ [http://www.skydiveoz.com Official Site] ]

* Wings Over Whales - Kaikoura, New Zealand. - [ [http://www.whales.co.nz Official Site] ]

* Wings Over Wilderness - Vanderhoof, BC, Canada - [ [http://www.wingsoverwilderness.com Official Site] ]

* Wrights Air - William Creek, South Australia. - [ [http://www.wrightsair.com.au Official Site] ]

pecifications

aerospecs
ref=
met or eng?= eng
crew=1
capacity=7 passengers or freight
length m=8.9
length ft=29
length in=4
span m=12.4
span ft=40
span in=9
swept m=
swept ft=
swept in=
rot number=
rot dia m=
rot dia ft=
rot dia in=
dia m=
dia ft=
dia in=
width m=
width ft=
width in=
height m=3.9
height ft=12
height in=9
wing area sqm=
wing area sqft=
swept area sqm=
swept area sqft=
rot area sqm=
rot area sqft=
volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio=
empty weight kg=997
empty weight lb=2200
gross weight kg=1814
gross weight lb=4000
lift kg=
lift lb=
eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Lycoming I0-540-K1A5 horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine
eng1 kw= 231
eng1 hp= 310
eng1 kn=
eng1 lbf=
eng1 kn-ab=
eng1 lbf-ab=
eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
eng2 hp=
eng2 kn=
eng2 lbf=
eng2 kn-ab=
eng2 lbf-ab=
max speed kmh=343
max speed mph=214
max speed mach=
cruise speed kmh=
cruise speed mph=
range km=1722
range miles=930
endurance h=
endurance min=
ceiling m=
ceiling ft=
glide ratio=
climb rate ms=4
climb rate ftmin=787
sink rate ms=
sink rate ftmin=
armament1=
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ee also

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References

External links

* [http://www.gippsaero.com Gippsland Aeronautics Official Site]
* [http://www.gippsaero.com/articles/files/ganews09.pdf GA October 2006 newsletter]
* [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/cota/download/VA503.pdf CASA Australia Type Certificate and Type Certificate Data Sheet]
* [http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/09460e23b064233b86256e8b0049e15f/$FILE/A00011LA.pdf FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet]
* [http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acdata_php/acdata_ga8_en.php Specs & Photo at Flugzeuginfo.net]