| GA8 Airvan | |
|---|---|
_Gippsland_Aeronautics_GA-8_Airvan_departing_Avalon_Airport_(1).jpg)
| |
| Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Airvan 8 | |
| Role | Utility aircraft/Transport |
| National origin | Australia |
| Manufacturer | GippsAero |
| First flight | 3 March 1995 |
| Introduction | December 2000 |
| Primary user | United States Civil Air Patrol |
| Produced | 2000–2020[1] |
| Number built | 262 |
| Variants | Gippsland GA10 |
The GippsAero GA8 Airvan 8 is a single-engined utility aircraft manufactured by GippsAero (formerly named Gippsland Aeronautics) of Victoria, Australia. It can seat up to eight people, including the pilot.
The GA8 has been designed for use in remote areas and from austere air strips, performing tasks such as passenger services, freight, sightseeing, parachuting, observation, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and search and rescue operations. Its design emphasises ruggedness and ease of use. First flown on 3 March 1995 and type certified under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 23 requirements during summer 2004, the GA8 has been flown by a diverse range of operators throughout the world.
Since its introduction, improved models featuring more powerful engines have been introduced; an enlarged turboprop-powered derivative, designated as the Gippsland GA10, has also been developed. A floatplane model of the GA8 has also been produced. At EAA Oshkosh 2014, the GA8 Airvan was officially renamed as Mahindra Airvan 8 as a reflection of GippsAero's recent acquisition by Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group. The aircraft was produced in Australia; establishment of a North American final assembly line to produce the type was proposed at one time.
In November 2020, the Indian conglomerate Mahindra, which had purchased the company, announced that production would cease at that time, citing the financial effects of the global economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
In November 2023 GippsAero's cofounder, George Morgan, re-purchased the company and announced his intentions to resume production of the Airvan 8.[2]
- ^ a b "GippsAero Airvan Gets the Axe". Plane & Pilot. 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Co-Founder buys Mahindra out of GippsAero - Australian Flying". www.australianflying.com.au. Australian Flying. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.