Story ID: 2052412alerts
GippsAero GA10 Turboprop Single Makes First Flight
By: Chad Trautvetter
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Word Count: 199
GippsAero announced yesterday that the GA10 turboprop single flew for the first time, on May 1 from its base at Latrobe Regional Airport in Victoria, Australia. GippsAero test pilot Tony Morris and flight-test engineer Gerhard Jordaan were at the controls of the Rolls-Royce 250-powered GA10–a stretched derivative of the company’s GA8 Airvan utility piston single–during the maiden flight.

The 10-seat airplane circled the airport several times for approximately 20 minutes and performed a low approach before coming in to land, GippsAero noted. Jordaan said the GA10 exhibited the “inherent stability and docile flying qualities” of the GA8.

“We are extremely proud of the successful first flight of our first turboprop,” said Arvind Mehra, executive director and CEO of GippsAero’s Indian parent company, Mahindra Aerospace. “It is another important milestone towards reaching our goal of providing a family of economical utility aircraft to the aviation market.”

GippsAero expects Australian certification of the GA10 in the first half of next year, with deliveries beginning by the middle of the year. The company said it will announce details soon of a deposit program that will allow customers to secure a purchase position.