GippsAero GA8 Airvan

The prototype GA8 Airvan circa 1999

GA-8 with floats

According to aviation publication Flying, the aircraft was designed to fill a market niche perceived by the manufacturer between the Cessna 206 and Cessna 208 Caravan models, with seating for six and up to fourteen passengers respectively.[3] The GA8's design was primarily produced by Peter Furlong. The aircraft was certified as conforming with the stringent Part 23 requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); accordingly, elements were subject to dynamic testing, as well as the controllability of the aircraft with the loss of any primary flight control validated.[4] Having satisfied these requirements, the GH8 received its type certification during summer 2004.[3]

The GA8 has been used in various roles, including passenger services, freight, sightseeing, parachuting, observation, and search and rescue operations. It has been designed for use in remote areas and from austere air strips.[4]

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 Safety 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 of this model took place in February 2009; within two years, numerous GA8-TC320 Airvans had been delivered to customers in Australia and New Zealand.[5]

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.[6] It is planned for the GA10 to retain as many common parts with the GA8 as possible.

During 2005, a floatplane model of the GA8 underwent evaluation.[7] In 2011, the company announced that it was preparing to put the float-equipped model of the GA8 into production in partnership with American aviation float manufacturer Wipaire.[8]

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

In September 2012, the company was announced that Soloy Aviation Solutions had been appointed as a GA8 component distributor for the US market.[9] During November 2012, West Coast Aviation Services was appointed as an authorised dealer of the aircraft itself.[10] In January 2013, a second US company, Summit Aviation, became an authorised dealer of the GA8 in the US market; Sumit reportedly planned to focus on government and surveillance aircraft sales.[11]

At EAA Oshkosh 2014, the GA8 Airvan was officially renamed as Mahindra Airvan 8; this rebranding is a reflection of GippsAero's recent acquisition by Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group. At the event, a company spokesperson announced that plans were underway to establish a new assembly line to produce the aircraft in North America.[12][13] Mahindra has also undertaken substantial investments into its Australian facilities for the purpose of expanding its production capacity.[14][15]

The GippsAero GA8 Airvan is an eight-seat utility aircraft specifically designed for routine operations within the hostile conditions of the Australian Outback.[3] In its original configuration, it was powered by a single Lycoming IO-540 piston engine; a derivative of the GA8, the GA10, is powered by a single Rolls-Royce 250-B17F/2 turboprop instead.[6] Its performance has been described as adequate, reportedly being capable of taking off within distances as short as 525 feet; under average conditions, the GA8 is expected to readily operate from a 1,000-foot air strip.[3] The handling has been described as forgiving, responsible, and akin to smaller aircraft.[4]

Externally, the aircraft bares a resemblance to the Cessna 208 Caravan, possessing a rectangular fuselage with large windows along its cabin.[3] Both passengers and crew are provided with a high level of visibility; in a standard seating configuration, each passenger is aligned with a sizable rectangular window which are bulged outwards to improve the downwards view. The use of a high-mounted wing located rearwards of the pilot's door improves the pilot's view range, particularly when looking upwards.[3][4] Unlike the majority of bush planes, the GA8's cabin can accommodate an aisle between the seats, improving passenger comfort; other comfort-enhancing features include evenly-distributed cabin ventilation and modular upholstery, the later being interchangeable to facilitate rapid replacement. Wherever possible, the aircraft has been designed to ease maintenance activities, minimising tooling required and maximising accessibility.[3] The cabin has a rear-facing door which can be opened mid-flight.[4]

Dedicated configurations are available for the skydiving, freight and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission roles.[4] External payloads can also be carried within an optional cargo pod, which is capable of carrying up to 440 pounds; this pod can be accessed through both a side-door and rear-mounted hatch. When used an ISR platform, a modular pod containing multiple sensors, such as a Wescam-supplied surveillance/camera, can be installed; this pod may be furnished with a retraction mechanism so that the sensors can be concealed, making the pod appear as an ordinary cargo pod instead.[4] Various mission workstations can be installed in the cabin, which are designed to be secured upon the standard seat mounts, for ISR operators; in a standard ISR configuration, a crew of five - two pilots and three operators - is used.[4]

Both the airframe and onboard systems are designed to be durable and straightforward.[4] The undercarriage uses an oil-free spring-based suspension system, while the fuel system has its wing tanks, holding a combined 92.2 gallon, feeding into a single sump tank under the cabin floor without any fuel selector, removing the need for pilots to manage tank switching. The design of the wing is also simple, as are elements such as the mechanically-actuated flap.[4] Most components are designed for relatively lengthy service lives, such as the wings being rated for 92,000 hours; the lowest lifetime structural fitting is the aft vertical stabilizer fitting, needing replacement at 15,000 hours. Cockpit avionics incorporated includes the Garmin G500 multi-function display, Garmin GTN750 and 650 touchscreen satellite navigation units; the pilots are also provisioned with a complete suite of backup analog instruments.[4]

GA8

Production version with a Textron Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 engine.

GA8-TC-320

Variant with a Textron Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A engine.

On a Fraser Island Beach

A Civil Air Patrol GA8 Airvan

228 Airvan 8s were in service as of July 2019.[16]

On 14 July 2019, a GA8 Airvan of Skydive Umeå crashed on Storsandskär, Sweden, killing all nine people on board.[19] Structural failure of a wing is suspected as a cause. The GA8 Airvan was grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia, Civil Aviation Authority in New Zealand, and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in the European Union.[20][21] The grounding order was issued on 20 July and was due to run until 3 August, but was lifted early as CASA found there is no evidence for an unsafe condition, and the EASA said the wrecked aircraft had been exposed to aerodynamic loads beyond certification.[22]

Top and side view

Flight deck

Airvan interior

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[23]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: Seven 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)
• Cruise 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: Six hours
• Service ceiling: 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.00 m/s (788 ft/min)

Related development

• Gippsland GA10

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Cessna 206
• Cessna 208
• Gavilán G358

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gippsland GA8 (category)

• Mahindra Aerospace Airvan 8 Official Site
• GA October 2006 newsletter
• CASA Australia Type Certificate and Type Certificate Data Sheet
• FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet
• Specs & Photo at Flugzeuginfo.net