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Mahindra Aerospace's GippsAero GA 10 takes first flight
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First single turbo-prop aircraft developed in Australia to foray into the Indian market soon
The last time we heard about a Mahindra owned aircraft, it had circumvented the globe for a noble cause and thereafter conducted a brief sortie over the Mumbai skyline with Bollywood actor Kunal Kapoor strapped into the passenger seat.
After tasting success on a global scale with the GA8 AIRVAN, Mahindra’s aircraft manufacturing division, namely Mahindra GippsAero has now successfully completed the first flight of its new single turbo-prop aircraft, the GA10. It is the first single turbo-prop plane to be developed in Australia, and is a 10 seat, multi-role bird based on the GA8 (eight seat) utility aircraft. The GA10’s first flight took place at GippsAero’s home base at Latrobe Regional Airport in eastern Victoria on Tuesday the 1st of May 2012.
Powered by a Rolls Royce 250 turbo prop engine, the GA10 aircraft fits a unique niche in the market and will suit a wide range of applications from passenger and freight work to air survey and surveillance roles.
Test Pilot, Tony Morris and GippsAero Flight Test Engineer, Gerhard Jordaan steered the GA10 to its take off the debut and effortlessly circled the airport several times for approx. 20mins, while also managing a one low approach including a go-around with relative ease.
Commenting on the GA10 aircraft debut flight Arvind Mehra, Executive Director and CEO of Mahindra Aerospace said “We are extremely proud of the successful first flight of our first turboprop. It is another important milestone towards reaching our goal of providing a family of economical utility aircraft to the aviation market.”
Dr Terry Miles, CEO of GippsAero has announced that the GA10 will bring an entry level turbo prop utility aircraft to the market place to make it relatively easier for operators to switch from piston to turbo prop power.
The GA10’s projected purchase price and low operating costs, coupled with its great versatility and turbo prop power should earn it a sizeable amount of private sector buyers, especially in emerging markets like India, where it will soon make its foray under the aegis of Mahindra.
With the completion of this first flight, the GippsAero engineering team will now subject the prototype to an intensive programme of static and flight tests to gain a CASA Type Certificate for the GA10. It is anticipated that the new type will be available for customer delivery in the first half of 2013.
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