A Bit of History

Gippsland Aeronautics, founded by Peter Furlong and George Morgan, has a long-established reputation in the aeronautical industry. The company commenced operations at the Latrobe Regional Airport in Morwell in the 1970s as an aircraft maintenance and modification business working for large organisations such as the National Safety Council and Esso, as well as local commercial operators.

The First Design The modification of agricultural aircraft to improve capability and safety marked the beginnings of Gippsland Aeronautics aircraft design and manufacturing business as it stands today. The company increasingly modified nine agricultural aircraft to the point where it was decided to certify the new design. Gippsland Aeronautics first indigenous design, the GA200, achieved Australian CAA certification to US airworthiness standards in 1991, followed by US certification in 1997. Gippsland Aeronautics continued to provide a maintenance facility, but commenced a small manufacturing line for the GA200. In 1993, the company recertified a new model, the GA200C with the capability of lifting one tonne on 300HP, giving the aircraft a 30-50% better performance than any aircraft in its class. To date, 45 GA200 aircraft have been manufactured in the Latrobe Valley, 28 of which have been exported to countries throughout the world including China, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Brazil and South Africa.

Gippsland Aeronautics two seat GA200C agricultural delivery aircraft.

Rapid Growth with the GA8 Airvan
Despite the success of this aircraft, profitability was too dependent on the roller coaster cycles of the agricultural industry. Subsequently, Gippsland Aeronautics second new design, the GA8 Airvan, was conceived by directors/designers, Peter Furlong and George Morgan as a utility transport to replace the Cessna 206/207 and DHC Beaver. Recognising the Cessna 206 as ‘one of the world’s best workhorses’, the visionary pair saw the potential niche market for a piston powered aircraft that could carry more passengers. This would improve the operators’ profitability without going to the expense of purchasing a turbine powered aircraft, clearly beyond the reach of most small operators. Thus the high wing, eight seat GA8 Airvan was born using the design of the GA200C as a basis. Certification commenced in 1993 with the building of the first prototype/proof of concept aircraft. After eight years in development, the Airvan was type certificated by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority to FAR 23 Ammenment 48 requirements in December 2000 and subsequently updated to Ammenment 54 status in early 2003. This was followed by certication by the US FAA and Transport Canada. The GA8 has achieved export sales into Belize, Botswana, Canada, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Holland, Indonesia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA including Alaska and Hawaii, in addition to in-country sales in Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Gippsland Aeronautics Expansion

Gippsland Aeronautics currently produces 20 to 25 aircraft per year with 110 staff and an annual payroll of AU$5 million in a factory area of 5,250 square metres. With the success of the GA8 Airvan, the company is planning an expansion program to meet sales demands.