Eight-occupant single-engine piston utility aircraft · Single-engine piston aircraft · production 2000–end year not verified · See its reach on the 3D globe
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A GippsAero GA8 Airvan costs approximately $407k (€377k) to $487k (€451k) to buy at 2010 market values, and about $37k (€34k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $462 (€428) per flight hour all-in. It seats 8, cruises at 120 kt (138 mph) and has a published range of 730 nm (1,352 km), needing about 1,640 ft (500 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The Airvan is Australia's answer to the utility single: eight seats, a big square cabin, a strut-braced high wing and a normally aspirated Lycoming, built to fly parachutists, survey crews and freight off rough strips at a fraction of a Caravan's cost. Where a turbine is unaffordable and a 206 is too small, it fills a real gap. It carries a difficult chapter. After a fatal in-flight breakup in Sweden in 2019 the type was grounded by an EASA emergency directive; the grounding was lifted once no unsafe condition was found, and the Swedish investigation concluded the structure was overloaded by an abrupt manoeuvre rather than that the design was at fault. Add a small fleet under Mahindra ownership and support is regionally uneven. Buy it for the mission, flown within its limits, with the parts route confirmed.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,905 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 783 kg |
| Landing distance | 370 m |
| Certified ceiling | 14,500 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 731 ft/min |
| Engine | Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 piston engine, 300 hp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 8 |
| Reported payload proxy | 1,587 lb (720 kg) |
| Reported range | 730 nm (1,352 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | Not used for mission ranking |
| Cruise speed | 120 kt (138 mph) |
| Runway need | ~1,640 ft (500 m) |
| Landing gear | Fixed tricycle |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $19k (€18k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $130 (€120) |
The GA8 Airvan combines 8-seat piston-aircraft utility with about 730 NM reported range and about 120 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
Indicative cash costs at 2010 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $32k (€29k) | $794 (€735) | $602k (€557k) |
| 80 h / year | $37k (€34k) | $462 (€428) | $627k (€581k) |
| 120 h / year | $42k (€39k) | $351 (€325) | $653k (€605k) |
| 180 h / year | $50k (€46k) | $277 (€257) | $692k (€641k) |
Every figure above is built from a $19k (€18k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $130 (€120) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $36k (€33k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
GippsAero GA8 Airvan cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
Nothing beyond a pilot certificate for the category and class. With fixed tricycle gear and no endorsement requirement of its own, this is among the simplest certified aircraft to qualify in, which is a real part of why it is cheap to insure and easy to check out in.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2010 market price for a GippsAero GA8 Airvan is $407k (€377k) to $487k (€451k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, a GippsAero GA8 Airvan works out at roughly $37k (€34k) annually, which is about $462 (€428) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $130 (€120).
Reported range is 730 nm (1,352 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.
Plan on approximately 1,640 ft (500 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.