1st Flight 1971
The GAF Nomad is a utility aircraft produced by the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) of Australia.
The Notable users of the Nomad are/were: The Philippine Air Force, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Thai Navy, the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, the Australian Army and the Australian Customs Service and the Indonesian Navy Aviation Service.
The Australian military withdrew almost all of its remaining Nomads amid reports of safety concerns during the 1990s.
By the 21st century, only a handful of aircraft remained in regular use in Australia.
GippsAero(Mahindra Aviation) acquired its type certificate in 2008 and plans to produce it again as the GA18.
Variants
N.2 Nomad
Prototype, two built.
N.22
Initial production version for 12 passengers for the Australian Army.
N.22B
13 passenger civil version.
N.22C
Cargo variant modified from N.22B with Maximum Take-off Weight increased to 4,050 kilograms (8,930 lb).
N.22F Float Master
Floatplane version with Wipline floats.
N.24
Utility transport aircraft with a fuselage lengthened by 1.14 m (3.7 ft).
N.24A
Improved version for 17 passengers.
N.24B
GA18
Re-engineered 18-seat N24 in development by GippsAero.
Nomad Mission Master
Military transport and utility aircraft.
Nomad Search Master
Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft.
Nomad N.22 Search Master B
Coastal patrol aircraft.
Nomad N.22 Search Master L
Improved version of the Search Master B.
Nomad N.22 Search Master LI
Improved version of the Search Master B, fitted with the APS-104(N) 2 radar.
Nomad N.22 Search Master LII
Improved version of the Search Master B, fitted with the APS-104(V) 5 radar.
Specifications
Passengers – 12
Height – 18 ft 2in / 5.52m
Span – 54 ft 2in / 16.46 m
Wing Area – 324 sq.ft / 30.1 m2, 9:1 AR,
Length – 41 ft 3in / 12.57m
Cabin length – 17 ft 7in / 5.34m
Cab. Height / Width – 5 ft 2in, 4 ft 3in / 1.57m, 1.28m
Cab. Volume – 360 cu.ft / 10.2 cu.m
Baggage – 58 cu.ft / 1.64 cu/m
MTOW – 8,500 lb (3,856 kg)
Usable fuel – 268 US gal (1,010 L)
Empty weight – 4,730 lb / 2,150 kg
Cruise – 168 knots / 311 km/h
Minimum control speed – 66 kn (122 km/h)
Range – 730nmi / 1352 km,
Endurance 8 h at 140kt / 259 km/h, FL50
Climb rate – 1,460 ft/min / 7.4 m/s
Ceiling – 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
2 Turboprop – Allison 250B17B/C
2 Power – 400–420 hp (300–310 kW)
2 Propeller – Hartzell 3-blade, 90.63 in (2,302 mm) diam.
Take-off to 50 ft – 1,050 ft / 320m
Landing from 50 ft – 740 ft / 226m.
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