The turbocharged version of the GippsAero Airvan GA8 is now FAA certified, the company announced this week at EAA AirVenture. The type was certified in Australia last year and recently also won EASA approval; the piston version was FAA certified in 2003. "The Airvan has already proved its airworthiness and is in great demand among international customers," said Arvind Mehra, CEO of Mahindra Aerospace, the parent company of Gipplsand Aeronautics. Mehra said GippsAero also has a new 10-seat and an 18-seat aircraft in the works.
The Airvan GA8 is an eight-seat utility aircraft. The turbo version is powered by a Lycoming TIO-540-Ah1A fuel-injected engine with a Hartzell 80-inch scimitar-design three-blade prop. Worldwide about 150 are flying, for diverse uses including humanitarian aid, passenger and freight hauling, sightseeing, surveillance and bush fire reconnaissance missions.
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