GAF Nomad

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Nomad

Nomad N22C in RFDS colours

Type STOL aircraft
Manufacturer GAF
Maiden flight 23 July 1971
Retired 1993
Primary users RAAF
Australian Army
United States Customs Service
Produced 1978 - 1985
Number built 170

The GAF Nomad is a twin-engine turboprop, high-winged, "short take off and landing" (STOL) aircraft . It was designed and built by the Australian Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) at Fishermens Bend, Melbourne. The aircraft was featured in the television series The Flying Doctors,[1] a fictionalised account of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. The other main users of the design have included the Australian Army and the Australian Customs Service.

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[edit] History

Development of the Nomad began in 1965 at the Government Aircraft Factories as Project N. The Australian government funded two prototypes in January 1970 for the twin engined, multi-purpose transport. The government was keen to build an aircraft in order to maintain aircraft production at GAF after the end of Mirage production.[citation needed] The prototype first flew in 1971. The aircraft was now known as the N2 and was aimed at the military and civilian markets. The designation N22 was to be used for military aircraft (becoming N22B in production) and N24 was to be used for the lengthened civilian version. The first prototype (VH-SUP) flew on 23 July 1971.

The Nomad design was considered problematic and early RAAF evaluations were critical of the design. An early, stretched-body variant crashed, killing the GAF chief test pilot and assistant head designer. The Nomad has been involved in a total of 24 total hull-loss accidents, and 76 fatalities.[2]

Only 170 Nomads were manufactured, due to the limited foreign sales achieved by GAF. In 1986, GAF was incorporated into Aerospace Technologies of Australia.[3]

[edit] Variants

GAF Nomad N22B A18-307 displayed at the Army Aviation Museum, Oakey, in 2007
GAF Nomad N22B A18-307 displayed at the Army Aviation Museum, Oakey, in 2007
N.2 Nomad
Prototype, two built.
N.22
Initial production version for 12 passengers for the Australian Army.
N.22B
13 passenger civil version.
N.22F Floatmaster
Twin floatplane version.
N.24
Utility transport aircraft with a fuselage lengthened by 3ft 9in (1.14m).
N.24A
Improved version for 17 passengers, 40 built.
N.24B
Nomad Missionmaster
Military transport and utility aircraft.
Nomad Searchmaster
Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft.
Nomad N.22 Searchmaster B
Coastal patrol aircraft, seven built.
Nomad N.22 Searchmaster L
Improved version of the Searchmaster B, 11 built.
Nomad N.22 Searchmaster LI
Improved version of the Searchmaster B, fitted with the APS-104(N) 2 radar.
Nomad N.22 Searchmaster LII
Improved version of the Searchmaster B, fitted with the APS-104(V) 5 radar.

[edit] Military operators

[edit] Specifications (N22B)

Data from [3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One or two
  • Capacity: 12-13 passengers
  • Length: 12.56 m (41 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 16.52 m (54 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 5.52 m (18 ft 1 in)
  • Empty weight: 2,150 kg (4,730 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,855 kg (8,480 lb)
  • Powerplant:Allison 250-B17B turboprop engines, 298 kW (400 shp) each

Performance

[edit] See also

Related lists

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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