In July last year Gippsland Aeronautics flew an Airvan across the Pacific Ocean to Oshkosh to attend AirVenture2002. This was a 10,000-mile (16000 km) journey taking 60 hours flying time.
The Airvan captured CAP’s interest during last year’s AirVenture and Gippsland Aeronautics was invited by CAP to participate in aircraft flight evaluation trials. The trials were conducted at Buena Vista Airport in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, with flights also made from Leadville Airport, the highest airport in North America and third highest in the world at an elevation of 9,927 feet.
The CAP carried out an extensive flight trials program, including rigorous performance and handling tests with particular emphasis on the slow-speed manoeuvrability necessary for CAP operations. The Airvan met or exceeded all of the CAP mission criteria.
CAP personnel were impressed with the large cabin, which will not only provide space for their sophisticated mission equipment but also give them excellent visibility from the Airvan’s large windows.
In January 2003, CAP contracted with Gippsland Aeronautics to provide Airvans on an Indefinite Delivery - Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ basis for the next 3 years.
The CAP Airvan was flown to the USA by Stephen Death (pronounced Deeth), an experienced ferry pilot with many Pacific Ocean crossings to his credit. Stephen is an agricultural pilot and a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer from Albury NSW. Stephen owns his own Warbird, a T28 Trojan, and is a well known air show performer.
Death followed a route from Latrobe Valley via, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Apia (Samoa), Christmas Island, Hilo (Hawaii), Mojave (California), and on to Oshkosh. The longest leg was from Hawaii to California, a distance of 2150 nautical miles (3980 KM), a flying time of 20 hours. The aircraft was fitted with a 1000 litre ferry tank, which gave it a 24-hour endurance.
Gippsland Aeronautics directors and staff, including co-founder of the company and co-designer of the Airvan, George Morgan, are attending AirVenture.
In the meantime, last year’s example of the Aussie built Airvan has not been idle as it has been used for testing to gain FAA certification and for sales demonstration flights. The certification tests included the highly specialised dynamic Flight Flutter Testing programme, and a noise-testing program to prove compliance with the FAA FAR Part 36 Amendment 22 Noise Testing requirements. FAA certification was achieved in May 30th to FAR23 Amendment 54, the highest standard applicable to this class of aircraft.
AirvanUSA, Gippsland Aeronautics US representatives for the Airvan, have also been used this Airvan as a demonstrator aircraft. Their program included attendance at the AOPA 2002 Convention at Palm Springs and a sales demonstration tour in Alaska. Assessing the positive response to the aircraft, Airvan USA has imported three Airvans and placed forward orders for the next 12 months.
Gippsland Aeronautics Flight Test Manager, David Wheatland, recently travelled to the US to meet up with Joe Desjardins of AirvanUSA. Together they ferried the AirvanUSA demonstrator Airvan from Mojave to Wichita to demonstrate the Airvan to interested government agencies at the Aviation Law Enforcement Agencies (ALEA) Convention.
After the Wichita Convention they flew on to AirVenture 2003 where the aircraft is being used as a jump ship for the Flag Jumper at the opening of each days AirVenture 2003 Airshow.
Following the issue by Transport Canada of the Canadian Type Certificate for the Airvan was issued on April 30th Gippsland Aeronautics has announced the appointment of Avalon Aircraft Corporation of Richmond B.C. as the Canadian representatives for the Airvan. The principals are Sucha Gill and John Hill. Avalon has appointed AeroFlite Industries as the first Airvan Service Centre in Canada.
Avalon has commenced a series of demonstration flights to potential customers in Canada where the Airvan is seen as a modern, certified, replacement aircraft for aging fleets. Product development of options for floats and skis is due to commence shortly.
For further details on the GA8 Airvan please contact
In the USA:
