Photograph:
First Australian Vulcanair AP68TP-600 A-Viator VH-PNW (c/n 9010) at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, VIC in March 2011 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Italy
Description:
Light utility aircraft
Power Plant:
Two 245 kw (328 hp) Rolls Royce 250B17C turboshafts
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 12.00 m (39 ft 4 in)
- Length: 11.27 m (36 ft 10 in)
- Height: 3.63 m (11 ft 9 in)
- Max speed at 3,658 m (12,000 ft): 295 km/h (245 mph)
- Max range cruising speed: 315 km/h (196 mph)
- Rate of climb: 427 m/min (1,550 ft/min)
- Single engine rate of climb: 82 m/min (270 ft/min)
- Stalling speed [no flaps]: 139 km/h (86 mph)
- Stalling speed [full flaps]: 128 km/h (80 mph)
- Service ceiling: 7,580 m (25,000 ft)
- Service ceiling single-engine: 3,874 m (11,400 ft)
- Range with max fuel: 1,575 km (978 miles)
- Take-off roll: 400 m (1,312 ft)
- Landing roll: 320 m (1,050 ft)
- Empty weight: 1,680 kg (3,704 lb)
- Max useful load: 1,345 kg (2,965 lb)
- Loaded weight: 3,000 kg (6,569 lb)
History:
The A-Viator was a development of the Partenavia P-68 series, the production of which was acquired by Vulcanair SPA which carried out its operations from Casoriain in Italy. It was an economical non-pressurised twin-engine turboprop designed to meet a number of requirements, from private use to charter operations, advanced airborne surveillance and aerial work missions.
The fuselage of the P-68 was stretched and strengthened to allow more on-board space, and turbines were fitted to permit the aircraft to operate in areas where AvGas was not readily available. Fitted with a glass cockpit, and a retractable undercarriage, the fuselage stretch allowed for more efficient use of cabin space resulting in a maximum seating capacity of nine passengers and two pilots. The cabin was 5.29 m (17 ft 4 in) long and had a volume of 6.5 m³ (230 sq ft). Space was provided in the nose for a camera installation.
First of the type seen in this region became VH-PNW (c/n 9010) to AirItalia Australia Pty Ltd, the Australasian distributor, on 31 January 2011, this aircraft being displayed at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, VIC in the following month. However, the aircraft was not sold in Australia and was exported to Switzerland, becoming HB-LRZ, being shown at Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany before moving to Germany and becoming D-ISGS. No further examples have been imported.