History Brief, by Johan Visschedijk December 15, 2003

El Galiván 358 Galiván (Sparrowhawk)

Colombian Aero Mercantil started distributing Pipers in 1952 and began assembling Piper kits in 1968. Eric Leaver, project manager with Aero Mercantil, wanted to produce a taxi/transporter for the South American market. The design was made by General Aviation Technical Services (former Piper engineers) of Lock Haven Pennsylvania, by specification of Leaver: Piper PA-18-type, 150 mph, high-wing utility, large doors, tubular construction, no machined parts. The prototype, bearing a superficial resemblance to the larger Cessna 208 Caravan, was built by Aero Mercantil and Columbia’s first indigenous aeroplane made its maiden flight in Bogotá on April 28, 1990. Late 1991 the Gavilán was transferred to Lock Haven for further flight-testing and for certification flying. A new company, El Gavilán S.A., was formed to handle all development and production-related issues. Disaster struck late February 1992 when a broken engine crankshaft caused an emergency landing; the Galiván prototype sustained substantial damaged and the program had a setback of many months. Finally after 8 years of development the FAA Type Certificate was issued on May 26, 1998. Four Gaviláns were delivered to the Columbian AF and one to the Columbian Navy. The four Air Force aircraft were fitted with weather radars in the first half of 2000. The 350 hp powered Gavilán is a simple aeroplane with simple systems and easy and comfortable flying characteristics. The aircraft can be used for bush, charter, taxi, ambulance and small cargo operations, carrying up to seven passengers or four patients on litters and an attendant. In addition to tricycle landing gear it is offered with twin-floats. Recently (October 2003) Gavilan Aircraft Corporation of Canada Inc was incorporated with the intention to locate the aircraft manufacturing operations of El Gavilán S.A. of Bogotá to Montreal, Quebec. A Pratt & Whitney (Canada) turboprop powered version, the 508T Gavilán, is under development. 358 Galiván Walter Van Tilborg Collection Specifications Type: Light multi-role transport aircraft Engine: One 350 hp Textron Lycoming TIO-540-W2A piston turbocharged engine Span: 40 ft in (12.19 m) Length: 31 ft 25 in (9.53 m) Height: 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) Wing area: 204 sq.ft (18.95 sq.m) Empty Wt: 2,800 lb (1,270 kg) Max T/O Wt: 4,500 lb (2.041 kg) Max speed: 268 mph (166 km/h) Max climb: 800 ft (244 m)/min Ceiling: 22,500 ft (6,859 m) Range: 820 mls (1,320 km) at 75% power, with 45 min reserve Models El Galiván 358 Galiván: initial version El Galiván 508T Galiván: proposed turbine-powered version

http://www.aero.pub.ro/wp-content/themes/aero.pub.ro/uploads/JANE_S_ALL_THE_WORLD_S_AIRCRAF/JANE_S_ALL_THE_WORLD_S_AIRCRAF/jawa0181.htm EL GAVILÁN EL-1 GAVILÁN 358 and 508T English name: Sparrowhawk TYPE: Seven-passenger utility light transport. PROGRAMME: Launched March 1986; construction began May 1987; first flight (HK-3500-Z) 27 April 1990; after 50 hours' flying, fuselage stretched 0.305 m (1 ft 0 in) immediately forward of main spar and gross weight increased by 136 kg (300 lb); new first flight 7 November 1990; wing incidence increased 1991 to improve cruising speed, and passenger windows reshaped; damage from emergency landing in USA in February 1992 delayed progress and company decided to obtain FAA (FAR Pt 23, Amendment 45) certification from outset; this gained by second prototype, built by General Aviation Technical Services in USA; funding arranged December 1994 for FAA certification. Second aircraft (N358EL/HK-4120-Z) flown (in USA) 29 May 1996 and gained FAR Pt 23 certification 26 May 1998, although a production certificate has yet to be awarded and El Gavilán SA is considering joint assembly as means of entering US market. CURRENT VERSIONS: Gavilán 358: Piston-engined version. Following description applies to Gavilán 358. Gavilán 508T: Proposed turboprop version, announced May 1998. Some included in first batch of 12 production aircraft. CUSTOMERS: Nine confirmed orders by November 1998, including four for Colombian Air Force (FAC), which has option on eight more; first delivery (FAC 5060) 25 June 1998. Seven delivered by November 1998 to FAC (four), TSS of Guatemala (one) and Colombian Regional Airlines (two, of four on order). Planned production rate of four per month. COSTS: Standard Gavilán 358, VFR equipped US$333,000, fully equipped US$365,000 (1998). DESIGN FEATURES: Constant chord, unswept braced wing of NACA 4412 section; thickness/chord ratio 12 per cent; dihedral 2º; incidence 5º 30'. FLYING CONTROLS: Conventional and manual. Mass balanced ailerons; elevators and rudder horn balanced; spring bias on rudder; trim tab with dual actuators in starboard elevator; manual, single-slotted flaps on offset hinges. Autopilot planned. STRUCTURE: All-metal, mainly of 2024-T3 aluminium alloy sheet; fuselage frame of 4130N steel tube skinned with 2024-T3; two-spar wing with single strut each side; two-spar fin. LANDING GEAR: Non-retractable tricycle type, with elastomeric shock- absorption and single wheel on each unit. Steel tube mainwheel legs; trailing-link nose unit, with fully castoring (±40º) nosewheel. Tyre sizes 700 × 6-6 (main) and 600 × 6-6 (nose); pressures 2.76 bars (40 lb/sq in) and 3.03 bars (44 lb/sq in) respectively. Cleveland hydraulic mainwheel brakes. POWER PLANT: One Textron Lycoming TIO-540-W2A flat-six engine (261 kW; 350 hp at 2,600 rpm), driving a three-blade constant-speed Hartzell propeller. Three fuel tanks in each wing, combined capacity 454 litres (120 US gallons; 100 Imp gallons), of which 446.5 litres (118 US gallons; 98 Imp gallons) usable. Refuelling point in top of each tank. Oil capacity 11.4 litres (3 US gallons; 2.5 Imp gallons). ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and co-pilot or one passenger at front. All transparencies of flat Plexiglas. Two rows of three seats to rear of pilots, facing each other. Door at front on each side, plus larger double door at rear on port side. Accommodation for four stretchers and one attendant in air ambulance version. SYSTEMS: Engine-mounted vacuum pump for gyro instruments, driven at 0.37 bar (5.5 lb/sq in). 24 V 70 Ah battery. Hydraulic system for brakes only. Gaseous oxygen system optional. AVIONICS: AlliedSignal KLX 135A nav/com/GPS. EQUIPMENT: Standard cargo net and cargo tiedowns in cargo version. Optional cargo kit and air ambulance kit for passenger versions. DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL: Wing span 12.80 m (42 ft 0 in) Wing chord, constant 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) Wing aspect ratio 7.8 Length overall 9.53 m (31 ft 3 in) Fuselage: Max width 1.42 m (4 ft 8 in) Height overall 3.73 m (12 ft 3 in) Tailplane span 4.68 m (15 ft 4¼ in) Wheel track 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in) Propeller diameter 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) Propeller ground clearance 0.36 m (1 ft 2 in) Pilot's door: Height 1.17 m (3 ft 10 in) Max width 0.86 m (2 ft 10 in) Height to sill 1.02 m (3 ft 4 in) Co-pilot's door: Height 1.17 m (3 ft 10 in) Max width 0.66 m (2 ft 2 in) Height to sill 1.02 m (3 ft 4 in) Passenger door: Height 1.17 m (3 ft 10 in) Width 1.24 m (4 ft 1 in) Height to sill 1.02 m (3 ft 4 in) DIMENSIONS, INTERNAL: Cabin: Length 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in) Max width 1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) Max height 1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) Floor area 4.09 m2 (44.0 sq ft) Volume 5.4 m3 (190 cu ft) AREAS: Wings, gross 18.95 m2 (204.0 sq ft) Ailerons (total) 0.97 m2 (10.40 sq ft) Trailing-edge flaps (total) 1.12 m2 (12.00 sq ft) Fin 1.48 m2 (15.91 sq ft) Rudder 0.91 m2 (9.81 sq ft) Tailplane 1.51 m2 (16.30 sq ft) Elevators (total, incl tab) 0.90 m2 (9.70 sq ft) WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS: Weight empty, equipped 1,270 kg (2,800 lb) Max fuel 326 kg (720 lb) Max payload with 30 min fuel at 75% power 716 kg (1,580 lb) Max T-O and landing weight 2,041 kg (4,500 lb) Max wing loading 107.7 kg/m2 (22.06 lb/sq ft) Max power loading 7.82 kg/kW (12.86 lb/hp) PERFORMANCE: Never-exceed speed (VNE) 204 kt (378 km/h; 235 mph) Max level speed at 4,575 m (15,000 ft) 140 kt (259 km/h; 161 mph) Cruising speed at 3,050 m (10,000 ft): at 75% power 130 kt (241 km/h; 150 mph) at 65% power 128 kt (237 km/h; 147 mph) at 55% power 123 kt (228 km/h; 142 mph) Stalling speed, engine idling: flaps up 65 kt (121 km/h; 75 mph) 40º flap 58 kt (108 km/h; 67 mph) Max rate of climb at S/L 244 m (800 ft)/min Service ceiling 6,860 m (22,500 ft) T-O run 341 m (1,120 ft) T-O to 15 m (50 ft) 546 m (1,795 ft) Landing from 15 m (50 ft) 500 m (1,640 ft) Landing run 244 m (800 ft) Range, 30 min reserves: at 75% power 712 n miles (1,318 km; 819 miles) at 65% power 720 n miles (1,333 km; 828 miles) at 55% power 738 n miles (1,366 km; 849 miles) UPDATED Second prototype Gavilán 358, following its re-registration in Colombia (1998) Gavilán 358 seven-passenger utility transport (Mike Keep/Jane's) (1999) Gavilán 358 passenger and medical evacuation layouts (1996) Mini-tractor stowed aboard a Gavilán 358 (1999) Gavilán 358 instrument panel (1999) Height (m): 3.73 Length (m): 9.53 Max Level Speed (kts): 140 Max Range (nm): 712 Max Rate Climb (m/min): 244 Max Wing Load (kg/m2): 107.7 Service Ceiling (m): 6860 T-O Run (m): 341 Landing Run (m): 244 Wing Span (m): 12.80