Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Light twin-engine utility transport

Power Plant:

Two 298 kw (400 shp) Allison 250-B17B turboprops

Specifications:

History:

During the 1960s the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) at Fishermen’s Bend, VIC, began designing a small utility transport intended to provide a continuing production activity after completion of the GAMD Dassault Mirage IIIO fighter program and to meet civil and military needs. Eventually two prototypes known as the N-22 were built, the first VH-SUP (c/n 01) making its first flight on 23 July 1971, and the second VH-SUR (c/n 02) on 5 December of that year. The engine chosen, the Allison 250 turboprop, was in widespread use at that stage in the helicopter industry, powering, amongst others, the Hiller 500 series and the Bell 206 Jet Ranger.

With Australian Government backing, the type entered production as the N-22 Nomad. The first production aircraft was VH-AUI (c/n N22-001) which first flew on 4 October 1974 but it was written off in Mexico 12 months later in a wind storm while on a demonstration tour. United States FAA certification was received in the light aircraft category in May 1977, and in the transport category in October 1978.

The first aircraft delivered to a customer was VH-ELN (c/n N22-002) which entered service with Nationwide Air Services on 30 April 1975. Early production aircraft were for military use by The Philippines and Indonesia commencing in August 1975, and the first for the Australian military was a couple of months later.

Development continued to the N-22B model with increased weight at take-off to 3,855 kg (8,500 lb) and, in 1975, the type began commuter services with Aero Pelican between Sydney airport and Belmont on the central coast in New South Wales.  After a period the 298 kw (400 shp) Allison 250-C17B engine was replaced by the 313 kw (420 shp) Allison 250-B17C engine and early production aircraft were upgraded to this unit.

In the military role the Nomad had the potential of a light strike capability, forward air control, battlefield reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, supply dropping, troop transport, and radio relay. Provision was made for four underwing hard-points, with a further two on the fuselage, each stressed for 227 kg (500 lb).

The Nomad was similar in configuration to the Britten Norman Islander and the de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, but intermediate in size. A retractable undercarriage and a more complex flying control system were its main differentiating features. A primary objective of the design team was to make a short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft. The system adopted involved the whole trailing-edge of the wing being taken up by double-slotted flaps, so the ailerons were the outer portions of the main flap sections.

Aircraft construction was of conventional light alloy. Variants included the N-22B Cargomaster, seating 10 to 12 in the passenger role; N-22B Commuterliner for regional services with more comfortable seats; N-22B Medicmaster, being a flying ambulance with a capacity to carry four stretchers and medical equipment; N-22B Surveymaster for photographic and geophysical survey work, examples of which were delivered to National Mapping and Austirex International; and the N-22BP Floatmaster.

The American company Wipline developed amphibious Model 9812 floats, and non-amphibious floats, for the Nomad, later replaced by Model 9500 floats, and fitted a set to c/n N22B-61 (later VH-BRQ) in 1978, flying for the first time on 30 May. In addition, skis were developed and the type, distributed by Hughes Aircraft, was sold in small numbers on the North American market. The Nomad was used for a variety of services: aerial ambulance, flying doctor work, aerial mapping and survey, scientific research, including earth resources and cloud-seeding programs, and firebombing, as well as military purposes, mainly in the light transport role.

Further variants were developed, including the N-22SB Searchmaster B with a crew of four or five, comprising one or two pilots, a tactical navigator, and one or two observers. It was fitted with Bendix RDR 1400 radar, long-range fuel tanks, floor drop hatch, underwing hard-points for surveillance or SAR pods (search-and-rescue), and had a crew of three, being able to patrol five hours at up to 370 km (230 miles) from base at a patrol speed of 259 km/h (161 mph).

Later the N-22SL Searchmaster L was introduced, being a more sophisticated variant of the Searchmaster B, with Litton APS-504(V) 360 degree search radar in an undernose radome, more sophisticated long-range tactical navigation equipment, a crew of four and an increase in weight to 4,128 kg (9,100 lb). Seven were delivered to Australian operators to service Australian Customs contracts, and seven were delivered to the United States Customs Service.

Nomads have been operated in Thailand for a number of roles, including casualty evacuation, and with a bank of large loud-speakers for the psychological warfare role. Further, to supplement the Fairchild AU-23A Peacemakers with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), a number were used as mini-gunships with machine guns mounted in the cabin door. A number were also used for Border Police and coastal surveillance work.

First Nomad in Australian military markings was VH-SUR (c/n 02), which became A18-002, which was received in July 1973, which crashed on 3 October 1973, and was rebuilt to become the gate guardian at Oakey, QLD. Eleven N-22s known as the Missionmaster (A18-303 – c/n 3; and A18-304 to A18-313 –  c/ns between N22-40 and N22-65) were supplied to the Australian Army based at Oakey, and were operated by No 173 (General Support) Squadron and the School of Army Aviation at Oakey.

Two additional aircraft A18-314 (c/n N22-131) and A18-315 (c/n N22-132) were obtained in 1982 specifically for the role of training Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) students. One aircraft VH-SFR (c/n N22-90) had been a demonstrator and was modified from Searchmaster configuration, being used by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Austhority, before later becoming A18-316. Further aircraft were obtained in 1993, becoming A18-317 to A18-321 (c/ns N22-166 to N22-170). One (A18-301) suffered a wheels-up landing at Horn Island in northern Queensland. After retirement they were disposed of and replaced by leased aircraft.

Six Nomads were supplied to the PNGDF as Australian Aid and these received serials P2-011 to P2-016. Sixteen Searchmaster Bs were supplied to the Indonesian Navy (P-801 to P-816) from 1978; and later two Searchmaster L variants (P-817 and P-818) were also supplied. Twelve Searchmaster Bs were supplied to The Philippine Air Force (N22B-5 to N22B-23), and 20 MissionMasters were supplied to the Royal Thai Air Force (40211 to 40245), the first being delivered in June 1982.

In the late 1970s the Australian Government required an aircraft for coastal surveillance, and a number of Searchmaster Ls entered service with Australian Customs. A number of similar aircraft were supplied to private contractors for this work.

In mid 1982 the Australian Government directed that production of the Nomad cease, this occurring after 170 examples had been built. Because of this it was difficult to sell the last production batch and these were placed in a storage facility at Oatlands, VIC. In August 1987 the Australian Government announced that the 11 aircraft in storage would be taken on charge by the Australian military as commercial buyers could not be found. At one stage the Florida Wing of the United States Customs was interested in obtaining Nomad Searchmasters but this did not eventuate.

Two N-22 Nomads were used by the NSW Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), VH-MSE (c/n N22C-68) and VH-MSF (c/n N22B-69). A television series was made about the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and one of the Nomad prototypes VH-SUR (c/n 02) was painted as VH-MSE and used during filming. Another Nomad was painted as VH-MSF (c/n N22B-33 – ex VH-RCC) and was mounted on a plynth at Broken Hill airport, before eventually being removed and placed on display in the RFDS Museum at the airport.

The N-22 Nomad has seen service all around the world: Whangarei Air Taxis in New Zealand operated ZK-NDB. Clubair Pty Ltd of Maitland, NSW operated VH-WRT on scheduled services to Sydney.

One Nomad was fitted with a T-tail in 1984, this being in response to fatigue problems said to have occurred with the horizontal stabiliser; however, it is not thought to have been flown on an aircraft.

A couple were operated by the National Safety Council (NSC), VH-SNX (c/n N22B-103) and VH-SNZ (c/n N22B-104), but after the demise of that organisation they later went to a Coolangatta operator, Twinair. After retirement VH-SNX was eventually obtained by the Darwin Aviation Museum.

The last Nomad delivered was an N-22C (c/n N22C-170) on 28 June 1985, this model having first appeared in 1984 and having had the max take-off weight increased to 4,060 kg (8,950 lb). The production total of the N-22 Nomad was 135 aircraft, the remainder of production being N-24s. In later years a couple of survivors have been used in the parachuting role.

In mid 2016 it was announced The Philippines Air Force still had 20 examples in service and at that time it had allotted finance to obtain spare parts that would be required for the maintenance and future operation of the type.

In 2020 N-22 Nomad ex VH-FDA (ex A18-306) was obtained by the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitors Centre at Broken Hill where it has been placed on display painted in the RFDS colour scheme.