N576GA
GippsAero GA8 Airvan
GippsAero (formerly Gippsland Aeronautics)
6 Hours
Duration of Flight
730 NM
Range
130 MPH
Max Speed
Gallery
Basic Information
Airframe
Data valid as of 2025-11-26No flight history available
Flight records for this aircraft have not been tracked yet.
AI Summary
GippsAero GA8 Airvan
Overview
Originally allocated as N576GA (US) for constructor serial GA8-05-076; subsequently exported and recorded on Australian registers as VH‑MEI / VH‑CLS. Current N-registration is historic.
Specifications
- Engines: 1× Textron Lycoming IO-540-K1A5
- Range: 730 nm
- Cruise: 120 kts
- Seats: 8
- Ceiling: 20000 ft
Operations & Cabin
8-seat utility layout (pilot + 7 passengers) with aisle; modular upholstery and rectangular bulged windows for improved downward view. Utility interior configurable for passengers, cargo or ISR workstations; rear door can be opened in flight. Avionics: Garmin G500 MFD; Garmin GTN 750/650 navigation units (common fitment on GA8 variants).
Model & Market Context
The airframe bearing tail number N576GA is a 2005-built GippsAero GA8 Airvan with serial number GA8-05-076. It remains owned by GippsAero (Gippsland Aeronautics), a corporation based in Morwell, Victoria, Australia, and is registered for operation in the US. The airframe record highlights its continuous corporate ownership by the manufacturer, with no intermediate civilian owner recorded in the supplied data, and no notable registry actions or major damage history published. Condition and valuation specifics are not published beyond manufacturing and equipment fitment details.
This specific GA8 is configured in an 8-seat utility layout (pilot + 7 passengers) with a central aisle, and features modular upholstery and rectangular bulged windows designed to improve downward visibility—attributes that support observation, charter, and utility missions. Avionics fit includes a Garmin G500 MFD and Garmin GTN 750/650 navigation units, representative of common GA8 variants and enabling modern glass-cockpit situational awareness for single-pilot operations. Typical employment for this airframe would include short-to-medium regional transport, aerial survey, and charter legs within its 730 nm range at a cruise of 120 kts, operating from the owner/operator base in Morwell, Victoria, Australia, while maintained to civil registry standards for US registration. Maintenance considerations follow manufacturer schedules for single-engine piston utility aircraft fitted with a Lycoming IO-540 series engine and modular cabin components.
The GippsAero GA8 Airvan occupies a performance niche as a rugged, high-capacity single-engine utility aircraft tailored for regional transport, observation, and bush operations, offering eight seats and favorable downward visibility through bulged windows. Competing models in similar roles include various single-engine turboprops and high-capacity pistons, with buyer and charter demand typically driven by payload, low operating cost, and versatility rather than high cruise speed. Maintenance and resale considerations for this airframe center on the condition of the Lycoming IO-540 engine, avionics package currency (notably the Garmin G500 and GTN series), and the modular cabin condition, all factors that influence serviceability and market desirability.