Photograph:
GAF N-24A Nomad ZK-NMD (c/n N24A-60) at Lake Tekapo, NZ in 2011 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Light twin-engine commercial transport
Power Plant:
Two 224 kw (300 hp) Rolls Royce 250 turboprops
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 16.45 m (54 ft)
- Length: 14.4 m (47 ft 3 in)
History:
In 2011 GippsAero, as it had become known, announced that following an injection of funds by its parent company, Mahindra Aerospace, the development of the GAF N-24 Nomad commercial transport would proceed apace and to this end the company obtained from Air Safaris of Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, an N-24 ZK-NMC (c/n N24A-34) , this being flown to Australia and re-registered as VH-XGZ.
Plans proposed were to use this aircraft as the prototype of the new GA-18, an update of the 40 years old design, using new model Rolls Royce 250 turboprop engines, a glass cockpit and some re-design using modern technology in order to improve performance. It is noteworthy GippsAero had the fuselage of an N-22 in its facility at Morwell, VIC to facilitate development, this being ex-Royal Australian Army machine A18-316 – ex VH-SFR.
An 18-seater with turboprop engines driving lightweight propellers, the role of the transport was aimed at tourism operators, military transport, airfreight, search-and-rescue, VIP transport, humanitarian relief, law enforcement, and border security. It was designed to provide a balance between passenger comfort and aircraft performance, being able to be re-configured quickly from passenger services to freight operations quickly, thus providing flexibility to operators. The manufacturer stated, as the original Nomad performed reliably and efficiently with military operators for 25 years, this was a tribute to the design and could see the new type sold to military services. At the same time the Company announced it was increasing factory capacity to be able to produce its range of aircraft.
Work on the project has been slow and by 2015 little had taken place in relation to the new aircraft as work was involved in the development of the GA-10 and the GA-8 amphibian. However, GippsAero announced the GA-18 would be a highly versatile platform capable of a wide range of roles. “It is specifically designed to provide high volumetric capacity and interior layout flexibility appropriate for economic short-range, low-traffic operations…is a rugged, maintainable aircraft that is optimised for its market niche by offering low-fuel consumption and operational costs, making it highly competitive against other aircraft types within the category.”
In 2012 the Member of Parliament for Gippsland South, Peter Ryan, turned the first sod of dirt for a new hangar to be built at Morwell with Government funding to construct the new GA-18 Nomad twin-turbine light utility aircraft. It was stated at the time the existing hangars at the aerodrome were not large enough to manufacture the new aircraft. Project Leader, James Garth, stated the new facility would undertake final assembly and integration work for initial production aircraft.
In mid 2012 it was also stated development of the GA-18 was continuing, with first flight scheduled for later that year and certification under FAR Part 23, Amendment 62, late in 2012, with entry into service in 2014. However, in May 2013 the Company announced it was restructuring and reducing the workforce by 40 personnel. By early 2020 the prototype of the GA-18 had not been completed and it is believed further development of the design has been put on hold. In mid 2020 Mahindra announced, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, it was reducing its workforce by 25 per cent. Following the closure of the Gipps Aero (Mahindra) facility in late 2020 work on the GA-18 had stopped and it is not expected to begin again unless another company buys the business and starts to build GA-8 and GA-10 Airvans again.