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Robert Borucki
October 17th 03, 10:51 PM
What is this new airplane, recently certified in the US, has 8 seats, single
engine piston from Australia? Was looking for it's website... something
like airtranusa?

Thanks..


Robert Borucki
October 17th 03, 11:02 PM
found it..... http://www.gippsaero.com

John Galban
October 18th 03, 10:42 PM
"Robert Borucki" > wrote in message >...
> found it..... http://www.gippsaero.com

I saw that one at Copperstate. Looks like a dimunitive Caravan.
The performance specs are pretty impressive. I wouldn't be surprised
to see this plane start showing up in the fleets of backcountry
commercial operators.

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

Rick Durden
October 20th 03, 02:47 AM
Robert,

It's the Gippsland Airvan. It's been around for several years now,
however, it has only recently been certified in the U.S. I flew one
about 18 months ago and was pretty impressed. There is a review in
Aviation Consumer that is about a year old.

It has a Lycoming IO-540 developing 275 hp due to prop rpm limitation
for noise, although you can get the full 300 hp if you push the prop
control forward past the normal stop...it makes sense when you look at
it.

Flat floor, eight seats with a center aisle, although the legroom is
kind of tight, you tend to put your feet out into the aisle. It has a
large, sliding door on the left side that can be opened in flight so
you can do photo work without taking the doors off as you do in a
Cessna 206 or 207. The pax seats come out in a couple of seconds with
a little tool that people will probably lose <g>. The cabin is wider
than a 206 or 207 and it carries roughly the same load, although it is
slower due to the larger fuselage. Handling is very pleasant and the
view over the nose is excellent in the climb or when running at low
power settings for photo work or flying with the door open.

It's making some pretty good inroads into the bush operator and
sightseeing communities in SE Asia and the Pacific rim as well as
Central America. It has mostly U.S. parts, so support here should be
good. I suspect it will prove popular if Gippsland has the money to
market and support it.

All the best,
Rick

"Robert Borucki" > wrote in message >...
> What is this new airplane, recently certified in the US, has 8 seats, single
> engine piston from Australia? Was looking for it's website... something
> like airtranusa?
>
> Thanks..
>
>

Bob Lisbonne
October 20th 03, 09:24 PM
Out of curiosity: anyone know what these planes cost new?
I couldn't find any pricing information on http://www.airvanusa.com/
thanks,
/Bob

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