stuartjl 0 #1 November 3, 2005 Has anyone ever jumped a Gippsland G8 Airvan. I know there are a few out there in Australia and South Africa. I want to get in contact with any DZOs that are running these ac as I need some information about them as a jump ac. Can anyone help? Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dentman 0 #2 November 3, 2005 From a jumpers point of view, they are very slow climbers 25+ min to 10k with 8 jumpers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymick 0 #3 November 3, 2005 ive done quite a few jumps in them before, pretty much the same engine as a cessna 206, just about 15 HP more (about 300HP i think) but can carry up to 8 people VERY slowly. I cant remember how long it took exactly but it was at least 30 min to 10,000ft and on very hot day it didnt always reach 10k witha full load. After saying that though it wa s apretty comfy ride and had a great heater for those cold winter days Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites mjosparky 4 #4 November 3, 2005 About 3 years ago I spent a week in Belize doing demos for Maya Island Air. We made 7 jumps in 6 days. They provided us with an Air van. All of our jumps were from 4,000 feet or less. The plane makes a good platform for demos, high wing and a sliding door. But I think it would have limited use in general skydiving. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites TrickyDicky 0 #5 November 4, 2005 There was one in at my home dz in the UK for the weekends recently. Feedback was good about everything except that it was a piston, so slow. Ive heard they have plans to make a turbine version. That would then make it a pretty good aircraft for smaller DZs. UK Skydiver for all your UK skydiving needs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #6 November 4, 2005 QuoteHas anyone ever jumped a Gippsland G8 Airvan. I know there are a few out there in Australia and South Africa. I want to get in contact with any DZOs that are running these ac as I need some information about them as a jump ac. Can anyone help? Cheers *** I jump one of two that come to the EAA Oshkosh Air Show every year...they are there as a promotion for the manufacturer. I have about 35-40 jumps out of them. They are a bit slow on the climb from say, 6000' on up, but only because most of us are more use to turbines these days. They seem to be very well build aircraft, but the sliding 'jump door' could use some minor improvements, it's a little difficult to operate now and then. I know they were talking about various ways to increase the climb rate, larger HP engine, turbo on the present one, even a turbine. I don't know if they've gone forward on these 'options' or not...I know they were saying how much money it would cost to re-cert. another engine configuration. All in all for the price and the operating costs it think it would be a good bird for a 'smaller' DZ unable to fully support an Otter or a Caravan. Somewhere I have a business card for the factory rep. here in the U.S. if you need to contact someone on that end, I can look around and forward you the information. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites EricTheRed 0 #7 November 4, 2005 Some info here: http://www.gippsaero.com/articleZone.asp?articleZoneID=141 Looks like with a little added HP it could be a good medium sized plane.illegible usually Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites stuartjl 0 #8 November 18, 2005 Thanks for all that info. i have agreed to lease one and it arrives in March at Skydive London nr Swindon. The turn rate is less important for us at the moment as we have just come from a c206. come visit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #9 November 18, 2005 I jumped the North American demonstrator a couple of years back and reached the same conclusion as other posters: Airvans are better than Cessna 205, 206 and 207 for static-liners, mainly because the larger cabin is more comfortable/safer. The large side door makes for easy exits, but since it limits dive speed, would be less cost-effective for high loads. I wonder if an Airvan would be profitable at a tandem DZ because it climbs so slowly, about the same as a Cessna 207. Comments from our chief pilot included: "You have to stay on the rudders" and "Like most airplanes, it could use more power." Gippsland has promised a turbine version (possibly like the Allison/Rolls-Royce 250/Soloy conversion for Cessna 206 and 207), but I suspect that will have to wait until they have sold enough piston versions to pay off initial certification costs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites tai 0 #10 August 18, 2006 I own 2 Airvans in the UK if you want to know about them mail me on pete@boogieclub.co.uk or call me on 01932 701321 Pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #11 July 28, 2011 Airvan just announced that they are going to install a 450 horsepower, Rolls Royce turbo-prop engine in their G-10 prototype. As the new designation implies, the G-10 will seat ten passengers. Hopefully the extra horsepower will improve the rate of climb enough to allow Airvans to compete with Caravans, Porters, Kodiaks, etc. in the tandem market. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Joellercoaster 6 #12 July 28, 2011 In the meantime, we are seeing the first turbo G8s appear... there's one at least in the UK, and the locals (not just the DZO!) seem really pleased with it.-- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. 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mjosparky 4 #4 November 3, 2005 About 3 years ago I spent a week in Belize doing demos for Maya Island Air. We made 7 jumps in 6 days. They provided us with an Air van. All of our jumps were from 4,000 feet or less. The plane makes a good platform for demos, high wing and a sliding door. But I think it would have limited use in general skydiving. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrickyDicky 0 #5 November 4, 2005 There was one in at my home dz in the UK for the weekends recently. Feedback was good about everything except that it was a piston, so slow. Ive heard they have plans to make a turbine version. That would then make it a pretty good aircraft for smaller DZs. UK Skydiver for all your UK skydiving needs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #6 November 4, 2005 QuoteHas anyone ever jumped a Gippsland G8 Airvan. I know there are a few out there in Australia and South Africa. I want to get in contact with any DZOs that are running these ac as I need some information about them as a jump ac. Can anyone help? Cheers *** I jump one of two that come to the EAA Oshkosh Air Show every year...they are there as a promotion for the manufacturer. I have about 35-40 jumps out of them. They are a bit slow on the climb from say, 6000' on up, but only because most of us are more use to turbines these days. They seem to be very well build aircraft, but the sliding 'jump door' could use some minor improvements, it's a little difficult to operate now and then. I know they were talking about various ways to increase the climb rate, larger HP engine, turbo on the present one, even a turbine. I don't know if they've gone forward on these 'options' or not...I know they were saying how much money it would cost to re-cert. another engine configuration. All in all for the price and the operating costs it think it would be a good bird for a 'smaller' DZ unable to fully support an Otter or a Caravan. Somewhere I have a business card for the factory rep. here in the U.S. if you need to contact someone on that end, I can look around and forward you the information. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricTheRed 0 #7 November 4, 2005 Some info here: http://www.gippsaero.com/articleZone.asp?articleZoneID=141 Looks like with a little added HP it could be a good medium sized plane.illegible usually Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stuartjl 0 #8 November 18, 2005 Thanks for all that info. i have agreed to lease one and it arrives in March at Skydive London nr Swindon. The turn rate is less important for us at the moment as we have just come from a c206. come visit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #9 November 18, 2005 I jumped the North American demonstrator a couple of years back and reached the same conclusion as other posters: Airvans are better than Cessna 205, 206 and 207 for static-liners, mainly because the larger cabin is more comfortable/safer. The large side door makes for easy exits, but since it limits dive speed, would be less cost-effective for high loads. I wonder if an Airvan would be profitable at a tandem DZ because it climbs so slowly, about the same as a Cessna 207. Comments from our chief pilot included: "You have to stay on the rudders" and "Like most airplanes, it could use more power." Gippsland has promised a turbine version (possibly like the Allison/Rolls-Royce 250/Soloy conversion for Cessna 206 and 207), but I suspect that will have to wait until they have sold enough piston versions to pay off initial certification costs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tai 0 #10 August 18, 2006 I own 2 Airvans in the UK if you want to know about them mail me on pete@boogieclub.co.uk or call me on 01932 701321 Pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #11 July 28, 2011 Airvan just announced that they are going to install a 450 horsepower, Rolls Royce turbo-prop engine in their G-10 prototype. As the new designation implies, the G-10 will seat ten passengers. Hopefully the extra horsepower will improve the rate of climb enough to allow Airvans to compete with Caravans, Porters, Kodiaks, etc. in the tandem market. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #12 July 28, 2011 In the meantime, we are seeing the first turbo G8s appear... there's one at least in the UK, and the locals (not just the DZO!) seem really pleased with it.-- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
