Gavilán G358

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]

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]

• 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]

•  Colombia

• Colombian Air Force
• Colombian Navy
• Colombian National Police

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 [5]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: seven passengers or four stretchers or 444.5 kg (980 lb) cargo
• Length: 9.58 m (31 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)
• Height: 3.74 m (12 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 18.95 m² (204.0 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 8.65:1
• Airfoil: NACA 4412
• Empty weight: 1,270 kg (2,800 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,041 kg (4,500 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 447 L (118 US gal; 98 imp gal) usable
• Powerplant: 1 × Textron Lycoming TIO-540-W2A air-cooled flat-six piston engine, 260 kW (350 hp)
• Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell, 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) diameter

Performance

• Cruise speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn) at 3,050 m (10,010 ft), 75% power
• Stall speed: 108 km/h (67 mph, 58 kn) (flaps down)
• Never exceed speed: 376 km/h (234 mph, 203 kn)
• Range: 1,425 km (885 mi, 769 nmi) at 75% power, 30 minutes reserve
• Service ceiling: 6,860 m (22,510 ft) (with altitude pack)
• Rate of climb: 4.50 m/s (885 ft/min)

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Cessna 206
• Cessna 208
• Gippsland GA8
• Quest Kodiak
• Technoavia SM92 Finist