Gavilán G358
The Gavilán 358 (English: Sparrow Hawk) is a Colombian light utility transport aircraft of the 1990s. A high-winged monoplane powered by a piston engine, small numbers of Gaviláns were produced in the late 1990s/early 2000s, some serving with the Colombian Air Force.
Development and design
In 1952, Aero Mercantil of Bogota, Colombia, became a dealer for Piper Aircraft, later selling a range of Piper aircraft assembled from kits by Aero Industrial Colombiana SA (AICSA), also in Bogota. In 1986, it started development of a single-engined utility aircraft, suitable for production in Colombia.[1][2][3]
The resultant design, the Gavilán, is a simple high-winged monoplane of all-metal construction. It has a boxlike, square-section fuselage that accommodates a pilot and up to seven passengers, with access through two doors on either side of the cockpit and a large cargo door on the left side of the fuselage. The passenger seats can be removed to allow carriage of cargo, including a full-sized coffin. It is fitted with a fixed tricycle undercarriage designed to withstand continued operations from rough South American airstrips. It is powered by a 350 hp (261 kW) Lycoming TIO-540-W2A engine, turbocharged to give sufficient power at Colombia's high altitudes.[4][5]
The first prototype Gavilán made its first flight on 27 April 1990, testing resulting in lengthening of the forward fuselage and modifications to the wing.[6] It was badly damaged in a crash landing due to engine failure in 1992, however, delaying certification and production, with the second prototype not flying until 29 May 1996.[5] The Gavilán received its type certificate under US FAR part 23 regulations in May 1998.[7]
In 2012, Cub Crafters bought from John Bryerton of GATS the Prototype.[8]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Operational history
Deliveries to customers started in 1998, with the first of twelve Gaviláns ordered by the Colombian Air Force being delivered on 25 June that year.[7] El Gavilan SA, of Colombia, was pushing to sell 32 Gavilan 358's to the South African Air Force in April 1998.[9] El Gavilán (as Aero Mercantil was renamed in 1992) had received orders for 19 aircraft by November 1999,[5] but it is unclear whether all of these were built, with Flightglobal estimating in 2008 that only about twelve Gaviláns had been completed.[10] At least four of the Colombian Air Force's Gaviláns were still in use in 2004.[11] The Gavilán was retired in the Colombian Air Force in 2007.[12]
Variants
- G358 – standard version
- G358M – Military version with weapons mountable in the rear doors in the gunship configuration.[13]
- G508T – Turboprop-powered version with 500 hp turboprop, under development.[13]
- G508M – Military version of the turboprop version[13]
Operators
- Script error: No such module "flag".
Specifications
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Notes
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Taylor 1988, p.46.
- ↑ Wiley Flight International 4–10 March 1992, pp. 44–45.
- ↑ Homewood Flight International 6–12 March 1996. pp. 32–33.
- ↑ Wiley Flight International 4–10 March 1992, p.45.
- ↑ a b c Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ Lambert 1993, p.62
- ↑ a b "US Certification for Gavilan 358". Flight International, 1–7 June 1992. p.28.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Croft, John. "Flying Pickup on the selling block". Flightglobal, 8 December 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
- ↑ Flight International 16–22 November 2004, p.52.
- ↑ "Gavilán 358". FUERZA AEREA COLOMBIANA. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
References
<templatestyles src="Refbegin/styles.css" />
- Homewood, Brian. "Coming around again". Flight International, 6–12 March 1996. pp. 32–33.
- Lambert, Mark (ed.). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. Template:ISBN.
- Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 1988. Template:ISBN.
- Taylor, Michael J.H. (ed.). Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. Template:ISBN.
- Wiley, John. "Colombia's Worker Tested". Flight International, 4–10 March 1992. pp. 44–47.
- "World Air Forces 2004". Flight International 16–22 November 2004, pp. 41–100.
External links
Technical information
- Template:In lang Gavilán G358 aircraft brochure
- Template:In lang Gavilán G358 pilot's operating handbook
Manufacturers
- Template:In lang Gavilán Aircraft Corporation of Colombia Inc. Template:Webarchive
- Template:In lang Aero-Industias Leaver & Cía. S.A.
Photos
- Template:In lang Gavilán G358 aircraft photos by Airliners.Net
- Template:In lang Gavilán G358 aircraft by MyAviation.Net
Videos
- Template:In lang AVI format or MPEG-4 format
Magazine articles
- Template:In lang A boxcar designed to be a tough operator
- Template:In lang Gavilan plans US assembly
- Template:In lang Gavilán G358, a heavy hauler
- Template:In lang Gavilan G358, de la Colombie au Canada
- Template:In lang Gavilán G358, l’épervier colombien
- Template:In lang Gavilán: la sentinelle de la Cordillére des Andes
Script error: No such module "Navbox".