8 Aug 2003
Click on photo to enlarge
As many of you are aware, the CAD Committee
has recommended that CAP acquire 6 of the new Australian Gippsland GA-8 Airvan
aircraft with FY02 dollars. The first aircraft was delivered just in time to be
displayed at Oshkosh. The next 5 will await our final directions regarding any
changes we wish to make for future aircraft.
However, I have gotten a number of e-mails from various folks around the country
regarding some misinformation going around about this aircraft. To set the
record straight, I would like to ask you to distribute this to all your Wing
Commanders, and ask them to pass it along to their troops.
Some of the misinformation out there:
"These aircraft cost $750,000! We could get TWO Cessna 182s for that price!"
Untrue. Our cost for these aircraft is under $400,000, and that is only
slightly more than ONE Cessna 182. For the cost differential we get 2 more
passenger seats, and a lot more mission capability.
"These airplanes are not certificated by the FAA."
Wrong again. Gippsland got FAA type approval in June of this year. We could not
purchase aircraft not licensed for use in the U.S. with appropriated dollars.
"There will be problems with our supporters in Congress because we bought an
aircraft made overseas."
No. The aircraft is 94% U.S. parts and materials. Even the aluminum and rivets
are made here, as are the engine, propeller, radios, electrical wiring, tires
etc. That means that jobs and manufacturing profits stay here for the most part.
That's more than can be said for the black berets the Army recently purchased
from China!
"National will insist on a zillion hours and at least an ATP before allowing
anyone to fly this aircraft."
Also not true. "National" has nothing to say about who flies the aircraft. The
volunteers, in the guise of the Operations Committee, will make a recommendation
to the National Commander regarding the minimum pilot qualifications for this
aircraft. They will not be extreme or onerous, but WILL require a higher degree
of experience than our average Cessna pilot.
"These aircraft were purchased to carry around advanced sensors, and will not
be available for regular CAP missions."
This is untrue. We cannot afford to acquire ANY aircraft not able to prosecute
all of CAP's missions. The GA-8 is equipped to fly any of today's missions, and
with the Becker DF unit, camera port in the floor and fold-down camera window in
the rear door, is capable of fielding any of our advanced technology sensors and
so can also fly our future missions, as well.
I've attached a couple of low-resolution pictures (to keep the size of this
e-mail down) of the GA-8 Airvan, as well as a copy of my
flight test evaluation made last
summer at our flight test in Colorado. Please distribute these as you see fit to
your wings so we can get the word out to the field about this new and valuable
CAP resource.
Rick Greenhut
