GippsAero: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:41, 11 February 2007

Latest revision as of 16:15, 24 August 2025

(257 intermediate revisions by 91 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{short description|Australian aircraft manufacturer}}

[[Image:Lvair2.jpg|thumb|452px|A Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 "Airvan" over the eastern part of Gippsland - Note the new Cargo Pod underneath. VH-LVA is operated by the [http://www.latrobevalleyaeroclub.com.au/fleet.htm LVAC]]]

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{More citations needed|date=June 2008}}

{{Infobox company

|name = GippsAero

|logo = GippsAero logo.png

|foundation = {{Start date|1977}}

|location_city = [[Latrobe Regional Airport]], [[Morwell, Victoria]]

|location_country = Australia

|key_people =

|industry = [[Aerospace]]

|products = [[Aircraft]]

|revenue =

|operating_income =

|net_income =

|num_employees =

|subsid =

|homepage = {{URL|https://www.gippsaero.com.au|gippsaero.com.au}}

|footnotes =

}}

'''GippsAero''' (formerly '''Gippsland Aeronautics''') is an Australian [[fixed-wing aircraft|aircraft]] [[manufacturer]] based at [[Latrobe Regional Airport]] in [[Morwell, Victoria]]. The company builds single-engined [[utility aircraft]]. These include the multi-role [[GippsAero GA8 Airvan|GA8 Airvan]] and the agricultural [[Gippsland GA200|GA200 Fatman]]. In late 2020, brand owner [[Mahindra Aerospace]] announced plans to shut down GippsAero due to poor sales unless a buyer could be found.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Poor Shipment Figures fuel GippsAero Sale Rumour - Australian Flying|url=http://www.australianflying.com.au/latest/poor-shipment-figures-fuel-gippsaero-sale-rumour|access-date=2021-10-05|website=www.australianflying.com.au|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahindra to shut down aircraft manufacturing business in Australia|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/mahindra-to-shut-down-aircraft-manufacturing-business-in-australia/article33067994.ece|access-date=2021-10-05|website=@businessline|date=10 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Its 2021 Board Report indicated that GippsAero Pty Ltd had been converted into a spares and support organisation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MAHINDRA AEROSPACE PRIVATE LIMITED - BOARD'S REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF MAHINDRA AEROSPACE PRIVATE LIMITED|url=https://mahindraaerospace.com/mapl-pdf/MAPL%20BOARD%20REPORT%202021.pdf}}</ref>

'''Gippsland Aeronautics''' is an [[Australia]]n [[fixed-wing aircraft|airplane]] [[manufacturer]] based in [[Morwell, Victoria]]. The company builds utilitarian single-engined airplanes. These include the [[Gippsland GA8|GA8 Airvan]] and the [[Gippsland GA200|GA200C Fatman]].

In November 2023, George Morgan announced that he had fully purchased GippsAero back from Mahindra Aerospace and was now the company's sole owner.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Co-Founder buys Mahindra out of GippsAero|url=https://www.australianflying.com.au/latest/co-founder-buys-mahindra-out-of-gippsaero}}</ref> In June 2025, production recommenced of complete aircraft manufacturing with the GA8 Airvan,<ref>{{Cite web|title=GippsAero set to fly once more|url=https://latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/news/2025/06/17/gippsaero-set-to-fly-once-more/}}</ref> making GippsAero the only manufacturer of commercial aircraft in Australia. New-build Airvans should be operational in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GippsAero promises Gippsland jobs with new GA8 airvan launch|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-13/gippsaero-new-aircraft-production-airvan-plane-latrobe-valley/105267742}}</ref>

==History==

Gippsland Aeronautics, was founded in 1977 by [[Peter Furlong]] andas Georgean Morgan,aircraft hasmaintenance aand long-establishedmodification reputationbusiness inoperating theout aeronautical industry in Australia. The company started operations at theof Latrobe Regional Airport in Morwell in the 1970s as an aircraft maintenance and modification business, working for large organisations such as the National Safety Council of Australia (see [[Gippsland_Aeronautics | Trivia & Milestones]] below) and [[Esso]] Australia, as well as local commercial operators. In 1984, George Morgan joined Peter Furlong to form Gippsland Aeronautics Pty Ltd as an incorporated entity.

Between 1985 and 1991, Gippsland Aeronautics developed the GA200 agricultural aircraft, following approaches by local aircraft operators to design an agricultural aircraft with better lifting and handling capabilities than other available aircraft. The GA200C Fatman was type certified by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority in 1991. In 1993, the company commenced design work on a new aircraft designated the GA8, to fill a market niche between the six-seater Cessna 206 and the ten-seater [[Cessna 208 Caravan|Cessna Caravan]]. The "proof of concept" GA8 Airvan made its first flight in March 1995 and appeared at the [[Australian International Airshow]] in Avalon. The prototype GA8 Airvan made its first flight in August 1996. The Airvan then underwent a major flight testing and development programme. In 2000, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority certificated the GA8 Airvan to FAR 23 Amendment 48, and the vehicle began to be exported from December of the following year, with a delivery to Maya Island Air in Belize, Central America.

==The First Design - The GA200 Fatman==

[[Image:jbmga200c.jpg|thumb|250px|A GA200 over Gippsland in Victoria, Australia.]]

In 2002, the US [[Civil Air Patrol]] appointed Gippsland Aeronautics to supply Airvans, making the CAP the first American organisation to own and fly the Airvan, and the largest fleet owner of the Australian GA8 worldwide. In 2003, the Airvan gained Type Certification in Canada with [[Avalon Aircraft Corporation]] of [[Richmond, British Columbia]] appointed as the Canadian representative. This was followed by type certification by the US FAA. In 2004, the first Airvan was delivered to a Canadian operator, [[Wings Over Wilderness]], and a Cargo Pod for Airvan was certified by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority.

The modification of agricultural aircraft to improve capability and safety marked the beginnings of Gippsland Aeronautics aircraft design and manufacturing business as it stands today. The company increasingly modified nine agricultural aircraft (mainly the [[Piper Pawnee)]] to the point where it was decided to certify the new design. Gippsland Aeronautics first indigenous design, the GA200 Fatman, achieved Australian CAA certification airworthiness standards in 1991.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the GA8 Airvan in 2005. The Gippsland Aeronautics Airvan airframe #100 was rolled out in September of the following year. The completion of 100 Airvans was considered to be a significant milestone in Australian aircraft manufacturing. At least three other manufacturers of Australian civil aircraft have built more than 100 aircraft in the post-WW2 era, the others being the [[Transavia PL-12 Airtruk]] (118), the [[AESL Airtourer|Victa Airtourer]] (168) and the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) with 170 twin-engined [[GAF Nomad|N22 & N24 Nomads]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}} By February 2007, Gippsland Aeronautics had built 110 GA8 Airvans and 50 GA200 Fatmans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.queenstown.net.nz/index.php?title=Gippsland_Aeronautics|title=Gippsland Aeronautics - Queenstown.net.nz|website=www.queenstown.net.nz|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>

Gippsland Aeronautics continued to provide a maintenance facility for local aircraft in '92, and started a small manufacturing line for the GA200. In 1993, the company recertified a new model, the GA200C with the capability of lifting one tonne on 300HP, giving the aircraft a 30-50% better performance than any aircraft in its class.

In December 2009, [[Mahindra Aerospace|Mahindra Aerospace Pvt. Ltd.]] (MAPL), belonging to [[Mahindra Group]] of India, bought a 75.1% majority stake in the company.<ref name="hindu100628"/> In May 2012, the GA10 had its first flight.

To date, 45 GA200 Fatman aircraft have been manufactured in the Latrobe Valley, 28 of which have been exported to countries throughout the world including China, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Brazil and South Africa.

In August 2020, GippsAero announced that it was halting production of the Airvan and restructuring the company to concentrate on providing support to existing operators of GippsAero aircraft. It was reported that Mahindra Aerospace had put GippsAero up for sale.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Needham |first1=Martin |last2=Haynes |first2=Thomas |title=GA Review: Mahindra Aerospace to sell GippsAero |magazine=[[Air International]] |date=January 2021 |volume=100 |issue=1 |page=23 |issn=0306-5634}}</ref>

In the late 1990's, GA200 Fatman production was scaled down.

In November 2023, George Morgan announced that he had fully purchased GippsAero back from Mahindra Aerospace and was now the company's sole owner.<ref name="australianflying">{{cite news |title=Co-Founder buys Mahindra out of GippsAero - Australian Flying |url=http://www.australianflying.com.au/latest/co-founder-buys-mahindra-out-of-gippsaero |access-date=3 December 2023 |work=www.australianflying.com.au |publisher=Australian Flying |date=30 Nov 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==Rapid Growth with the GA8 Airvan==

[[Image:jbmkimberley.jpg|thumb|250px| A GA8 Airvan over the Kinberly's in Australia.]]

Despite the success of the GA200 Fatman variants, profitability was too dependent on the roller coaster cycles of the agricultural industry world wide. Subsequently, Gippsland Aeronautics second new design, the GA8 Airvan, was conceived by directors/designers, Furlong & Morgan as a utility transport to replace the Cessna 206/207 and DHC Beaver.

On 26 October 2024, George Morgan and Peter Furlong were inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame for their contributions to [[Aviation in Australia]] and around the world.

Recognising the Cessna 206 as ‘one of the world’s best workhorses’, the visionary pair saw the potential niche market for a piston powered aircraft that could carry more passengers. This would improve the operators’ profitability without going to the expense of purchasing a turbine powered aircraft, clearly beyond the reach of most small operators.

==Aircraft==

Thus the high wing, eight seat GA8 Airvan was born using the design of the GA200C as a basis. Certification commenced in 1993 with the building of the first prototype/proof of concept aircraft. After eight years in development, the Airvan was type certificated by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority to FAR 23 Ammenment 48 requirements in December 2000 and subsequently updated to Ammenment 54 status in early 2003. This was followed by certification by the US FAA and Transport Canada.

===GA200 Fatman===

The modification of agricultural aircraft to improve capability and safety marked the beginnings of Gippsland Aeronautics' aircraft design and manufacturing business as it stands today. The company increasingly modified five agricultural [[Piper PA-25 Pawnee]]s in the mid-1980s to the point where it was decided to certify a new design.

In 1991, Gippsland Aeronautics' first indigenous design, the GA200 Fatman, achieved Australian airworthiness certification. The certified production GA200 Fatman (also referred to unofficially as the GA200B) had a lifting capacity of 800 Litres with a 250&nbsp;hp engine.

The GA8 has already achieved export sales in Indonesia, New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, USA, Canada and Belize in Central America, in addition to in-country sales in Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

In 1993, the company certified a new model, the GA200C Fatman with the capability of lifting one tonne (1050 Litres) with a 300&nbsp;hp engine, giving the aircraft a 30–50% better performance than any aircraft in its class.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}} In the late 1990s, Fatman production was scaled down to make way for the Airvan.

==Customers==

Gippsland Aeronautics aircraft are sold to clients all over the world. The company prides itself on delivering an aircraft that meets individual needs.

===GA8 Airvan===

GA aircraft can be found operating in some of the toughest environments in the world – the remote Kimberley region in Western Australia, the outback of Central Australia, Arnhem Land in Northern Australia, the beach of Queensland’s Fraser Island, the challenging terrain of South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique, the rugged New Zealand Southern Alps, the grandeur of the Canadian and Alaskan wilderness, the tropical climes of Belize, Costa Rica, Indonesia and now in that most demanding of all flying locales, Papua New Guinea.

[[ImageFile:050926-F-2907C-094CAP Gippsland GA8 Airvan at West Houston Airport.JPGjpg|thumb|300px|AUS [[Civil Air Patrol]] Gippsland AeronauticsGA8 GA-8 "Airvan" on takeoff from [[West Houston Airport]] during a mission following [[Hurricane Rita]] in 2005. (U.S. Air Force photo)]]

[[File:VH-BYI Gippsland GA-8-TC320 Airvan Gippsaero (6486103005).jpg|thumb|GA8 Airvan, registration VH-BYI]]

A major customer is the [[United States Civil Air Patrol]], which utilizes their Airvan in their [[Search and Rescue]] operations.

Despite the success of the Fatman variants, profitability was too dependent on the roller coaster cycles of the agricultural industry worldwide. Subsequently, Gippsland Aeronautics' second new design, the GA8 Airvan, was conceived by directors/designers Furlong and Morgan as a utility transport to replace the [[Cessna 206|Cessna 206/207]] and [[de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver|DHC Beaver]]. Recognising the Cessna 206 as "one of the world’s best workhorses", the pair saw the potential niche market for a piston-engine aircraft that could carry more passengers. This would improve the operators’ profitability without going to the expense of purchasing a turbine powered aircraft.

Other operators of the Airvan include;

Thus the high wing, eight seat GA8 Airvan was born using the design of the GA200C as a basis. Certification commenced in 1993 with the building of the first prototype/proof of concept aircraft.

*Air Fraser Island - Urangan, Queensland - Australia - [http://www.airfraserisland.com.au Official Site]

After eight years in development, the GA8 Airvan was type-certificated by the Australian [[Civil Aviation Safety Authority]] to FAR 23 Amendment 48 requirements in December 2000 and subsequently updated to Amendment 54 status in early 2003. This was followed by certification by the United States [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and the Canadian [[Transport Canada]] in the same year. The [[European Aviation Safety Agency]] (EASA) certificated the Airvan in 2005.

*Air Safaris - Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. - [http://www.airsafaris.co.nz Official Site]

The GA8 Airvan has now achieved export sales in the UK, Holland, Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, USA, Canada and Belize in Central America, in addition to in-country sales in Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

*Alligator Airways - Kununurra, Western Australia. - [http://www.alligatorairways.com.au Official Site]

In October 2006, Gippsland Aeronautics announced that "the turbocharged prototype aircraft has commenced flight testing. The chosen engine is the Lycoming TIO 540 AH1A engine, which is a turbocharged version of the currently installed normally aspirated engine."{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}

*Commando Skydivers - Tooradin, Victoria, Australia - [http://www.skydiveworld.comcommandos Official Site]

===Developments and future products===

*Glenorchy Air - Queenstown, New Zealand - [http://www.glenorchy.net.nz Official Site]

On 18 June 2008, Gippsland Aeronautics announced it had won bidding to take over the type certificate of the [[GAF Nomad]], and would probably be restarting production.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/nomad-is-to-soar-once-again-20080617-2s8u.html?page=-1 |title=Nomad is set to soar once again |publisher=Theage.com.au |date=18 June 2008 |accessdate=15 February 2011}}</ref> The twin-engined, 18-seat reborn Nomad will be called the [[GAF Nomad|GA18]], and will be re-engineered with new engines, propellers, glass cockpit and weight-saving measures.<ref name=FGl_01>{{cite web |title=Gippsland preparing for G18 market entry within two years |last=Kelly |first=Emma |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/08/03/345594/gippsland-preparing-for-g18-market-entry-within-two.html |publisher=Flight Global |accessdate=9 July 2011 |date=3 August 2010}}</ref> It is planned to bring it into service after the development and certification of the new 10-seat [[Gippsland GA10|GA10]].

In December 2009, Mahindra Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. (MAPL), belonging to [[Mahindra Group]] of India acquired a 75.1% majority stake.<ref name="hindu100628">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article65783.ece |title=Mahindra buys major stake in Australian firms |work=The Hindu |date=16 December 2009 |accessdate=28 June 2010}}</ref>

*Kakadu Air - Arnhem Land, Australia - [http://www.kakaduair.com.au Official Site]

In March 2011, at the 2011 Australian International Airshow, GippsAero announced the [[Gippsland GA10|GA10]]. A development of the 8-seat [[Gippsland GA8|GA8 Airvan]] piston-engined aircraft, the GA10 design has been stretched and re-engined with a [[turboprop]] engine to increase seating and payload capacity.<ref name=AFly/> It is planned for its first flight to take place in October 2011 and be ready for service in March 2013. This was subsequently delayed to 2014,<ref>{{Cite web|title=GippsAero buys Nomad for GA18 program - Australian Flying|url=http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/gippsaero-buys-nomad-for-ga18-program|access-date=2021-10-05|website=www.australianflying.com.au|language=en}}</ref> but by late 2020 development had ceased altogether before the GA18 had been brought to market.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mathews|first=Neelam|title=Covid Crisis Hits GippsAero|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2020-07-29/covid-crisis-hits-gippsaero|access-date=2021-10-05|website=Aviation International News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Niles|first=Russ|date=2020-11-23|title=Mahindra Shutters GippsAero, Puts It Up For Sale|url=http://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/mahindra-shutters-gippsaero-puts-it-up-for-sale/|access-date=2021-10-05|website=AVweb|language=en-US}}</ref>

*Mission Aviation Fellowship - Australia & Papua New Guinea- [http://www.maf.org.au Official Site]

*Maya Island Air - Belize. - [http://www.mayaislandair.com Official Site]

*Paradise Air - San Jose, Costa Rica - [http://www.flywithparadise.com Official Site]

==Products==

*Natron Air - Soldotna, Alaska - [http://www.NatronAir.com Official Site]

* [[Gippsland GA200|Gippsland GA200 Fatman]]

* [[GippsAero GA8 Airvan]]

* [[GippsAero GA10|GippsAero GA10 Airvan]]

== Planned products ==

*TGS Air Charter Services (Tooradin Flying School) Victoria, Australia - [http://www.tooradinflyingschool.com.au Official Site]

*[[GAF Nomad|GippsAero GA18 Nomad]]

==References==

*Rani Air - Mozambique.- [http://www.raniresorts.com Official Site]

{{reflist|colwidth=30em

<ref name="AFly">{{cite web |url=http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/gippsaero-s-ga10-project-on-track |title=GippsAero's GA10 project on track |publisher=Australian Flying |date=3 March 2011 |accessdate=9 July 2011}}</ref>

}}

==External links==

*Safari Air - Maun, Botswana - [http://www.desertdelta.co.za/safari-air-botswana_2.html Official Site]

{{commons category|GippsAero}}

*{{official website|https://www.gippsaero.com.au}}

{{GippsAero aircraft}}

*Soundsair - New Zealand - [http://www.soundsair.com Official Site]

{{}}

*Tandem Skydive - Airlie Beach, Queensland. - [http://www.skydiveoz.com Official Site]

*Wings Over Whales - Kaikoura, New Zealand. - [http://www.whales.co.nz Official Site]

*Wings Over Wilderness - Vanderhoof, BC, Canada - [http://www.wingsoverwilderness.com Official Site]

*Wrights Air - William Creek, South Australia. - [http://www.wrightsair.com.au Official Site]

This list is not complete as the sales of the airvan continue to grow.

==Trivia & Milestones==

*Gippsland Aeronautics are currently located in the former National Safety Council of Australia (Victorian Division) expanded complex at the LV Airfield. (see also [[John Friedrich]] and the NSCA).

*Gippsland Aeronautics are the largest private aviation construction company employer in Australia.

*Gippsland Aeronautics also have a unique association with [[Burt Rutan]] at his Mojave Desert base, USA. The GA8 Airvan under went US air worthiness tests plus sub tests in a hangar next door. Their association goes back over 30years.

*GA's Peter Furlong was the 1974 Australian Aerobatics Champion.

*GA's Peter Furlong has either built, rebuilt, part built or restored some 60+ aircraft over a 40 year period. His advise on construction & building techniques are sought after world wide.

*Gippsland Aeronautics Airvan airframe #100 rolled out in September 2006.

*The completion of 100 Airvans is considered to be a significant milestone in Australian aircraft manufacturing. Only two other manufacturers of australian civil aircraft have built more than 100 aircraft in the post WW2 era. The others being the [[Victa Airtourer]] (168) and the Government Aircraft Factory ([[GAF Nomad|GAF]]) with 170 Twin engined Nomad N22 & N24’s.

*Gippsland Aeronautics combined 2 aircraft designs built will exceed that total in late 2007 - the GA8 (100) and GA200 (45) as of NY 06/07 total stands at 145.

*Gippsland Aeronautics may get to 200 GA8's by late 2008 (Turbine version is still to be tested and evaluated).

*The GA8 stands to be the most profitable and cost effective aircraft an australian company has ever built.

*Gippsland Aeronautics Airvan airframe #099 (VH-AFJ) departed on Feb 28th, 2007 for Bangalore India. Bangalore is 5323 nautical miles (just short of 10,000 Kilometres, one continent, three deserts, one archipelago, and two long ocean crossings, one Inter Tropic Convergence (weather) Zone, half a sub continent and over 48 flying hours away from home base). Commercial negotiations are proceeding to sell the Airvan to an Indian operator, so in all probability, Airvan #099 will not return to Australia.

==External links==

*[http://www.gippsaero.com Gippsland Aeronautics Official Site]

*[http://www.latrobevalleyaeroclub.com.au Latrobe Valley Aero Club]

[[Category:Aircraft manufacturers of Australia]]

{{airlistbox}}

[[Category:CompaniesAustralian ofcompanies Australia]][[Category:Aircraftestablished manufacturersin 1977]]

[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1977]]