| Nomad | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The GAF Nomad in the N24 stretched variant | |
| General information | |
| Type | light utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Government Aircraft Factories |
| Status | In limited service |
| Primary users | Philippine Air Force |
| Number built | 172 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1975–1985 |
| First flight | 23 July 1971 |
| Retired | Royal Australian Air Force (1993)[1] |
The GAF Nomad is a utility aircraft produced by the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) of Australia in Melbourne. The twin-turboprop, high-wing aircraft has a retractable gear and came in two variants: the initial N22, followed by the stretched N24. Supported by the Australian Government, design work began in the mid-1960s, and it made its maiden flight on 23 July 1971. Despite some export sales and commercial operations, sales were not sufficient and production stopped in 1985.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, the Australian Army and the Australian Customs Service were major users. The Australian military withdrew almost all of its remaining Nomads during the 1990s amid reports of safety concerns. By the end of the 1990s only a small number of aircraft remained in regular use in Australia.
GippsAero (later part of Mahindra Aerospace) acquired the Australian type certificate for the Nomad in 2008 and announced plans to produce it again as the GA18. The project proceeded slowly and was ultimately stopped, with the Gippsland development facility closing in late 2020.[2]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
nodeathwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ David C Eyre. "GIPPSAERO GA-18 NOMAD". Aeropedia. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
In 2011 GippsAero, as it had become known, announced that following an injection of funds by its parent company, Mahindra Aerospace, the development of the GAF N-24 Nomad commercial transport would proceed...Following the closure of the Gipps Aero (Mahindra) facility in late 2020 work on the GA-18 had stopped...