Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Light commercial utility transport

Power Plant:

One 336 kw (450 hp) Rolls Royce 250-B17/F2 turboprop

Specifications:

History:

A development of the successful GA-8 Airvan series by GippsAero at the Latrobe Regional Airport at Morwell, VIC, the GA-10 was a new model produced by GippsAero (formerly Gippsland), as the Company became known after the injection of money from India by Mahindra Aerospace. This model seated ten and had a 62.45 cm (24½ in) section inserted aft of the wing and another 19 cm (7.5 in) ahead of the wing leading-edge. The aircraft length was thus extended by 96.52 cm (38 in). The same tail section was used but with a longer moment. The pilot’s instrument panel was moved forward slightly to provide necessary balance, the engine being close to the firewall to keep it as close to the centre of pressure as possible, thus creating more cabin space, which meant, when required, the fitting of two extra seats. The optional cargo pod was retained but extended in length.

Larger fuel tanks were installed, these being of wet-wing design with no rubber cells. The airframe was corrosion-proofed and for beach or other corrosive type operations additional corrosion-proofing was provided. Initially the prototype was fitted with the 336 kw (450 hp) Rolls Royce 250-B17 engine driving a Hartzell HC-D3F-7 propeller, with the Rolls Royce 500, which was still under development at the time of the launch of the GA-10, becoming available to old and new customers when it superseded the B17 engine on the production line. Provision was made for hardpoints on the wings for military stores.

The GA-10 was described as a clean-sheet design, which incorporated many design and manufacturing features of the GA-8. Development began in 2009 and the basic prototype airframe was completed in October 2011. It featured an all-aluminium airframe with a fixed steel undercarriage. It was initially built by GippsAero, a manufacturing division of Mahindra Aerospace, but eventually became known as the Mahindra Airvan 10.

The Airvan 10 was aimed at the market for general aviation and could be used in passenger and freight transport roles, ambulance/medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), air survey and surveillance. It had a spacious cabin and a 127 cm (50 in) sliding door, accommodated a pilot and up to nine passengers, had 0.906 m³ (32 cub ft) of baggage space at the rear, and included an option for a cargo pod with 0.707 m³ (25 cub ft) of additional space.

Speaking at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, VIC in March 2011, a spokesman for the manufacturer stated the development of the GA-10 was proceeding swiftly and according to plan, stating the GA-10 was a wholly new FAR23 certified type powered by a Rolls Royce 250 B17F2 turboprop, the design aim being to emulate the GA-8 design as a low-cost platform, with added carrying capacity and potential for aircraft operators.

Investment from the Indian parent company ,Mahindra Aerospace, was said to be on track and it was said the prototype was to fly in November 2011, with certification in February 2013, and a launch date in 2013. Aerodynamic design of the GA-8 was retained and production parts from that aircraft were used as far as possible to minimise development and production costs, allowing the Company to offer the GA-10 at a realistic price.

GippsAero constructed a new 1,200 sq metre assembly hall at its facility at Morwell to assemble the GA-10, the first aircraft being completed in early 2012, becoming VH-XGY (c/n GA-10-XAA-001), which made its first flight on 1 May 2012 at the Latrobe Regional Airport. Development proceeded thereafter to obtain certification and place the new model in production. In mid 2014 Mahindra, the new owner of the Company, announced the new model would be thereafter known as the Mahindra Airvan 10.

At the 2015 Australian International Airshow at Avalon the GA-10 prototype was again demonstrated, this time in a new paint scheme, having an overall white finish with red trim and registration in lieu of the black trim. At that time it was stated submission of certification documents in mid 2015 was due following CASA certification, with FAA certification to follow within two months.

A second aircraft was completed in mid 2016, this aircraft becoming VH-XMH (c/n GA10-TP450-16-101) registered to GippsAero Pty Ltd of Morwell on 2 June 2016. American FAR 23 Type Certification was received in mid 2017, with deliveries of the GA-10 to begin late in 2017.

In early 2018 Mahindra and Viking Air of Canada stated they had formed an alliance intended to take advantage of growing opportunities in the Indian market for the Viking Twin Otter 400 and Airvan 8 and Airvan 10, stating they would support each others non-competing aircraft business to boost market penetration. In April 2018 GippsAero received an Excellence in Aviation Award at the annual Aviation/Aerospace Australia awards for the development of the GA-10.

On 4 June 2018 one of the prototype GA-10s VH-XMH was carrying out tests to evaluate the spin characteristics of the aircraft with a belly-mounted cargo pod installed at the Civilian National Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in the United States. For the tests the aircraft was fitted with an anti-spin parachute. However, the aircraft was lost, the two man crew parachuting to safety, and the aircraft was destroyed. A number of attempts were made to deploy the anti-spin parachute but to no avail.

The GA-10 Airvan was in production and the first production aircraft was sold to Major Blue Air of Maun, Botswana, for tourist work, this operator at the time already operating a fleet of five GA-8s. This operator has been reported to have placed an order for the GA-10 but the number of aircraft ordered is not known. However, no aircraft were delivered to meet any orders and following the closure of the production facility at Morwell, and the loss of one of the prototypes during testing, no further GA-10s are expected to be built unless another company takes over the company.