Page 33 - Volume 16 Number 8

EN ROUTEAustralian aircraft manu- facturer GippsAero, a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, successfully completed the first flight of its new aircraft, the GA10. The aircraft, which is the first single-engine turboprop to be designed and developed in Australia, is a 10-seat multi-role aircraft based on the very successful GA8 AIRVAN utility aircraft. The first flight tookplace at GippsAero’s home baseat Latrobe Regional Airport inst eastern Victoria on Tuesday the 1of May, 2012.Powered by a Rolls Royce 250 turboprop engine, the GA10 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.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”CEO of GippsAero, Dr Terry Miles, announced “The GA10 will bring an entry level turboprop utility aircraft to the market place enabling operators to make the not- inconsiderable step of moving from piston to turboprop power. The projected low purchase price and low operating costs of the GA10, coupled with its great versatility, will offer operators a commercially- viable multi-role turboprop aircraft.”Test Pilot, Tony Morris and GippsAero Flight Test Engineer, Gerhard Jordaan were on board the GA10 for this memorable occasion. Once in the air, the GA10 circled the airport several times for approxim•ately 20 minutes as well as one low approach, including a go-around. T&TGippsAero GA10 First Flight CompletedAd IndexAirparks Love Flyin ........ Inside Back Cover Arizona Type Rating..............................21 Avfab/Central Airmotive ........................26 Avidyne Corporation ...... Inside Front Cover Becker Avionics ...................................15 BLR.....................................................13 Corporate Angel Network........................3 Covington Aircraft Engines....................23 Falcon Insurance Agency........................7 Great Lakes Aero Products .....................6 Hartzell Propeller Service Center .............8 Hawkeye Aircraft Acquisitions .................7 Hillaero Modification Center..................28 Jetprop ...............................................26 Lighthawk ...........................................11 Nashua Flight Simulator .......................28 Northeast Air Inc. .................................10 Paul Bowen .........................................29 Penn Avionics ........................................8 Pilot N Paws ........................................29 Preferred Airparts LLC..........................11 Prime Turbines.....................................29 Raisbeck Engineering.....................16, 17 Rocky Mountain Propellers Inc. .............13 Scope Aircraft Finance .........................10 Select Airparts .....................................21 Trace Aviation ......................................27 Turbines Inc.........................................27 VAC-Veterans Airlift Command....Back Cover West Coast Aircraft Sales .....................31 Yingling ...............................................15Expert King Air Marketing and Acquisition Services• Live Real Time Market Data • King Air Marketing• King Air Acquisitions• Global Reach• AppraisalsBuying or selling a King Air?Ask what our customers say about “the best resale and acquisition programs in the industry.’’(949) 266-7834 • Jon@westcoastaircraftsales.com www.westcoastaviationservices.netAUGUST 2012TWIN & TURBINE • 31