Photograph:
Goair GT-1 Trainer VH-BBR (c/n 001) at Bankstown, NSW in February 1995 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Two-seat sport and training monoplane
Power Plant:
One 86 kw (115 hp) Textron Lycoming O-235 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 8.76 m (28 ft 9 in)
- Length: 6.24 m (20 ft 6 in)
- Height: 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 10.49 m² (113 sq ft)
- Max speed: 213 km/h (132 mph)
- Cruising speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Stalling speed: 78 km/h (48 mph)
- Rate of climb: 244 m/min (800 ft/min)
- Endurance: 4 hours
- Empty weight: 408 kg (900 lb)
- Loaded weight: 680 kg (1500 lb)
History:
The Goair Trainer was a relatively new venture into the trainer / light touring aircraft marketed by an Australian company, Goair Products based at Bankstown, NSW. Designed to fulfil the requirements of aero clubs, it was an all-metal training and recreational aircraft with a good short-field performance, good visibility, and docile stalling characteristics. A low-wing design seating two side-by-side, its construction was aimed towards simplicity, being all-metal with no modern composite type construction. Dual controls were standard, instrumentation to NVMC standard was available, and a luggage compartment of 0.16 m³ (6 cub ft) was available behind the seats. Fuel was carried in two integral wing tanks with a total capacity of 130 litres (28.6 Imp gals).
The prototype VH-BBR (c/n 001) was flown for the first time at Bankstown on 22 February 1995 and, during the following month, it was flown to Avalon, VIC and placed on static display at the Australian International Air Show event. In November 1998, in a new colour scheme, it was displayed at the Aviex event at Bankstown. It was eventually retired and dismantled. In late 2000 the production prototype was completed VH-AYS (c/n 002) and, registered to PG Aviation of Cowra, NSW it was displayed at the 2000 Aviex exhibition at Bankstown.
Production of a small batch commenced at that time. However, the production batch was not completed and the partially complete airframes were eventually sold to Aero V Aviation Pty Ltd at Albion Park, NSW, manufacturer of the Sadler Vampire, an announcement being made it had obtained the first prototype of the Trainer and the four partly completed fuselages.
The first prototype differed from the second and plans for subsequent aircraft in that it had a rounded fuselage belly whereas production aircraft were to have a flat belly. Plans were in due course to complete these aircraft and commence production of further aircraft, fitted with the Jabiru 2200 engine. The second prototype VH-AYS was sold and was based on a private strip on the NSW south coast.
Eventually the incomplete fuselages were developed by Garland Aerospace and one was proposed to be completed as the GA-6 Torana, a two-seat side-by-side kit aircraft for the amateur constructor powered by a UL Power Ul350iS four-cylinder horizontally-opposed dual ignition engine with Fadec. Another design was the GA-8 Woomera fitted with a turbocharged diesel engine, this aircraft being aimed at the market for glider and banner towing. A proposed one-off type aircraft was to be built with a Rotec radial engine as a scale replica of the CAC Winjeel. However, by mid 2020 none of these proposals had reach construction stage, although work was proceeding on restoring the prototype Trainer.