Gippsland Aeronautics

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A Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Airvan over the eastern part of Gippsland - Note the new Cargo Pod underneath.
A Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Airvan over the eastern part of Gippsland - Note the new Cargo Pod underneath.

Gippsland Aeronautics are an Australian airplane manufacturer based in Morwell, Victoria. The company builds utilitarian single-engined airplanes. These include the GA8 Airvan and the GA200 Fatman.

Contents

[edit] History

Gippsland Aeronautics, founded by Peter Furlong and George Morgan, has had a long-established reputation in the aeronautical industry in Australia. The company started 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 of Australia (see Trivia & Milestones below) and Esso Australia, as well as local commercial operators.

During the late 1960s, early 1970s, Peter Furlong and John Brown were pilots, builders, fabricators and maintenance personnel for, amongst others, the Latrobe Valley Aircraft Club, and the Ultra Light Club of Australia (LV Division).

The late John 'Brownie' Brown was a world reconised aviator and builder of timber aircraft. Brownie was involved with the 2nd airframe of the Australian designed 'Corby Starlet' in the mid 1960's. He later built the first Australian example of the Volmer Sportsman anphibian aircraft (VH-TUB). And true to form & innovation - instead of using the piper based wing - built the whole wing assembly, with slight modifications, from scratch.

Brownie and Pete continued to 'service' aircraft together untill the mid 1980's when Brownie was diagnosed with cancer.

(This section is currently being researched and will be updated shortly).

[edit] The First Design - GA200 Fatman

GA200 VH-BCE operated by Field Air, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. (© Phil Vabre)
GA200 VH-BCE operated by Field Air, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. (© Phil Vabre)

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 five agricultural PA-25 Piper Pawnee's in the mid 1980's to the point where it was decided to certify a new design.

During the late 1980's, Gippsland Aeronautics continued to provide a maintenance facility for local and privatly owned aircraft while working on the GA200 design.

In 1991, Gippsland Aeronautics first indigenous design, the GA200 Fatman, achieved Australian CAA certification airworthiness standards.

The certified production GA200 Fatman had a lifting capacity of 800 Litres on 250HP (also referred to unofficially as the GA200B). Although a new 'aircraft' in its own right - it was not as good as the designers wanted.

A GA200C over the Gippsland area in Victoria, Australia. (© Gippsland Aeronautics)
A GA200C over the Gippsland area in Victoria, Australia. (© Gippsland Aeronautics)

In 1993, the company recertified a new model, the GA200C Fatman with the capability of lifting one tonne (1050 Litres) on 300HP, giving the aircraft a 30-50% better performance than any aircraft in its class.

The lengthened 'nose' engine cowl, with squared intakes and new spinner are the main external visual differences between the two models. (see photos)

To date, 45 GA200 Fatman aircraft have been manufactured in the Latrobe Valley area of Gippsland, 28 of which have been exported to countries throughout the world including China, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Brazil and South Africa.

In the late 1990s, GA200C Fatman production was scaled down to make way for the Airvan.

2007/8 may see the new GA200C Fatman (or D) rolled out and added to the expanding production line at Gippsland Aeronautics.

[edit] Rapid Growth with the GA8 Airvan

VH-CCI (cn 02-022) This Airvan is used for general charter work plus, on the weekends, as a parachute jump-ship in June, 2006. (© Phil Vabre)
VH-CCI (cn 02-022) This Airvan is used for general charter work plus, on the weekends, as a parachute jump-ship in June, 2006. (© Phil Vabre)

Despite the success of the GA200 Fatman variants, profitability was too dependent on the roller coaster cycles of the agricultural industry world wide.

Subsequently, Gippsland Aeronautics second new design, the GA8 Airvan, was conceived by directors/designers, Furlong & 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.

PH-KMR (cn -02-***) A GA8 Airvan in the Netherlands in October, 2006. (© Björn van der Velpen - MST-Aviation)
PH-KMR (cn -02-***) A GA8 Airvan in the Netherlands in October, 2006. (© Björn van der Velpen - MST-Aviation)

After eight years in development, the GA8 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 certification by the United States FAA and the Canadian Transport Canada in the same year. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certificated the GA8 Airvan in 2005.

The GA8 Airvan has now achieved export sales in the UK, Holland, Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, USA, Canada and Belize in Central America, in addition to in-country sales in Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

The Gippsland Aeronautics October 2006 newsletter announced that "the turbocharged prototype aircraft has commenced flight testing. The chosen engine is the Lycoming TIO 540 AH1A engine, which is a turbocharged version of the currently installed normally aspirated engine."

[edit] Time Line for Gippsland Aeronautics

This is a brief time line for Gippsland Aeronautics with extracted highlights - see the Airvan and the Fatman entries for more.

  • 1977 - Peter Furlong starts Gippsland Aeronautics as an aircraft maintenance and modification business.
  • 1984 - George Morgan joins Peter Furlong to form Gippsland Aeronautics Pty Ltd as an incorporated entity
  • 1985 to 1991 - Gippsland Aeronautics develops the Gippsland Aeronautics GA200 Agricultural aircraft following approaches by local aircraft operators to design an agricultural aircraft with better lifting and handling capabilities than other available aircraft.
  • 1991 - The Gippsland Aeronautics GA200C Fatman is Type Certificated by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority. The company begins selling the aircraft in Australia and internationally. To date, 50 of these agricultural aircraft had been manufactured with 28 exported to countries including USA, China, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil and South Africa.
  • 1993 - The company commences design work on a new aircraft designated the GA8 that will fill a market niche between the six-seater Cessna 206 and the ten-seater Cessna Caravan.
  • 1995 - The “Proof of Concept” Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 Airvan makes its first flight in March 1995 and attends the Australian International Airshow at Avalon.
  • 1996 - The prototype GA8 Airvan makes its first flight August 1996. The Airvan then undergoes a major flight testing and developement program.
  • 2000 - Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority certificates the GA8 Airvan to FAR 23 Amendment 48, with the first Customer delivery to Air Fraser Island (Queensland).
  • 2001 - GA8 Airvans are sold to Australian tour operators, Alligator Airways (Western Australia), Slingair (Western Australia), Wrightsair (Central Australia). Then in December, the first export Airvan is delivered to Maya Island Air in Belize, Central America.
  • 2002 - A turning point and a big year... small Australian Company to real International Aviation Aircraft supplier...
    • A GA8 Airvan flies 16,000 kilometres across the Pacific Ocean to Oshkosh for its debut at EAA AirVenture 2002.
    • Gippsland Aeronautics participates in flight evaluation trials by the USAF Auxiliary - the Civil Air Patrol in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA.
    • The GA8 Airvan passes the most rigorous of flight tests, the Flight Flutter Test (FTT), at the National Test Pilots Schools, Mojave, California, USA.
    • The Airvan is flown across the Tasman Sea to make a demonstration tour of New Zealand.
    • The US Civil Air Patrol appoints Gippsland Aeronautics to supply Airvans, making the CAP the first American organisation to own & fly the Airvan - and the largest fleet owner of the Australian GA8 world wide.
  • 2003 - Gippsland Aeronautics wins Telstra Victorian Government Small Business of the Year Award.
    • Airvan gains Type Certification in Canada with Avalon Aircraft Corporation of Richmond B.C appointed as the Canadian representative - then US Federal Aviation Authority grants type certification.
    • First Airvan for Civil Air Patrol is delivered.
  • 2004 - Gippsland Aeronautics Inducted into Victorian Manufacturers Hall of Fame then wins Regional Exporter of the Year Award category and receives commendations in both the Small to Medium Business category and the Export Innovation Award at the 2004 Governor of Victoria Export Awards
    • First Airvan is delivered to a Canadian operator, Wings Over Wilderness.
    • An Airvan undertakes extensive demonstration tour of Papua New Guinea.
    • Cargo Pod for Airvan certified by Australian Civil Aviation Authority.
  • 2005 - Gippsland Aeronautics loan an Airvan to the MAF to assist in the humanitarian relief efforts following the tsunami in Aceh Province Indonesia.
    • An Airvan is flown from Australia for display at the Alaska State Aviation Trade Show - Natron Air of Soldotna becomes first Alaskan Airvan operator.
    • An Airvan is displayed at the Popular Flying Association Air Rally in UK.
    • The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certificates the GA8 Airvan.
  • 2006 - Gippsland Aeronautics take on Europe with the Airvan...
    • First Airvan sold to a European operator in the UK for Skydiving, with an Airvan sold to a German operator 'OLT' and first Dutch Airvan supplied.
    • Auto Pilot now certificated.
  • 2007 - February, Gippsland Aeronautics has built 110 GA8 Airvans and 50 GA200 Fatmans.

[edit] Customers

Gippsland Aeronautics aircraft are sold to clients all over the world. The company prides itself on delivering an aircraft that meets individual needs.

GA aircraft can be found operating in some of the toughest environments in the world – the remote Kimberley region in Western Australia, the outback of Central Australia, Arnhem Land in Northern Australia, the beach of Queensland’s Fraser Island, the challenging terrain of South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique, the rugged New Zealand Southern Alps, the grandeur of the Canadian and Alaskan wilderness, the tropical climes of Belize, Costa Rica, Indonesia and now in that most demanding of all flying locales, Papua New Guinea.

N606CP (cn-02-***). A Civil Air Patrol GA8 Airvan on takeoff during a mission following Hurricane Rita in 2005. (U.S. Air Force photo)
N606CP (cn-02-***). A Civil Air Patrol GA8 Airvan on takeoff during a mission following Hurricane Rita in 2005. (U.S. Air Force photo)
ZS-OWZ (cn-02-014). Short finals for rwy 05. July, 2006 -Durbin, Virginia, South Africa
ZS-OWZ (cn-02-014). Short finals for rwy 05. July, 2006 -Durbin, Virginia, South Africa


** NB This list may move to the Airvan entry **

A major customer is the United States Civil Air Patrol, which utilizes their Airvan in their Search and Rescue operations.

Other operators of the Airvan include;

  • Air Fraser Island - Urangan, Queensland - Australia - Official Site
  • Alligator Airways - Kununurra, Western Australia. - Official Site
  • Commando Skydivers - Tooradin, Victoria, Australia - Official Site
  • TGS Air Charter Services (Tooradin Flying School) Victoria, Australia - Official Site

This list is not complete as the sales of the airvan continue to grow.

[edit] Trivia & Milestones

  • Gippsland Aeronautics are currently located in the former National Safety Council of Australia (Victorian Division) expanded complex at the LV Airfield. (see also John Friedrich and the NSCA).
  • Gippsland Aeronautics are the largest private aviation construction company employer in Australia.
  • Gippsland Aeronautics also have a unique association with Burt Rutan at his Mojave Desert base, USA. The GA8 Airvan under went US air worthiness tests plus sub tests in a hangar next door. Their association goes back over 30years.
  • GA's Peter Furlong was the 1974 Australian Aerobatics Champion.
  • GA's Peter Furlong has either built, rebuilt, part built or restored some 60+ aircraft over a 40 year period. His advise on construction & building techniques are sought after world wide.
  • Gippsland Aeronautics Airvan airframe #100 rolled out in September 2006.
  • The completion of 100 Airvans is considered to be a significant milestone in Australian aircraft manufacturing. Only two other manufacturers of Australian civil aircraft have built more than 100 aircraft in the post WW2 era. The others being the Victa Airtourer (168) and the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) with 170 Twin engined Nomad N22 & N24’s.
  • Gippsland Aeronautics combined 2 aircraft designs built will exceed that total in mid 2007 - the GA8 (110) and GA200 (45) as of Feb 2007, the total stands at 160 (NB this also includes the 5 PA-25-235/A9 Fatmans).
  • Gippsland Aeronautics may get to 200 GA8's by late 2008 (The G8 Turbine version is still to be tested and evaluated). This will give GA the overall record for a private Aircraft Manufacturer in Australia of a single design base.
  • The GA8 stands to be the most profitable and cost effective aircraft an Australian company has ever built.
  • Gippsland Aeronautics Airvan airframe #099 (VH-AFJ) departed on Feb 28th, 2007 for Bangalore India. Bangalore is 5323 nautical miles (just short of 10,000 Kilometres, one continent, three deserts, one archipelago, and two long ocean crossings, one Inter Tropic Convergence (weather) Zone, half a sub continent and over 48 flying hours away from home base). Commercial negotiations are proceeding to sell the Airvan to an Indian operator, so in all probability, Airvan #099 will not return to Australia.
  • A GA8 Airvan was featured in the film Blood Diamond.

[edit] External links

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