"This aircraft, the 164th off the production line, is another turbo charged GA8 aircraft and for the next few weeks it will be shown and flown at various centres along the east coast to interested MAF supporters. It will then take a ferry flight from the MAF engineering and maintenance base at Mareeba in Far North Queensland across to Papua New Guinea where it will go into service at Mt Hagen." (MAF Website)
BFC Member Tim Pryse flew VH-BYQ into Bendigo this afternoon as part of a goodwill and thank you promotional tour by the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Tim then under took several flights over Bendigo with MAF supporters on board. BYQ will fly to Nhill tomorrow and then on to Albury. Followed by a 10 day tour through NSW and Queensland, before undertaking some minor modifications at MAF's Mareeba maintenance base to bring it up to speed for opps. in PG.
The 8 seater aircraft was officially hand over to MAF yesterday. The G8 Airvan is manufactured in a 5250 square metre factory at Latrobe Regional Airport in Morwell and has been sold all around the world.
Tim Pryse
"On 8 July 2010, history was made when Ken Evers and Tim Pryse landed VH-BYI, a GA8-TC Airvan, at Bendigo Airport in Victoria Australia. For the first time in world history, an Australian designed and manufactured aircraft had flown around the world." The around the world flight was undertaken to "raise awareness about the devastating effects of malaria" ....Millions Against Malaria
"VH-BYI has again taken to the skies on a long distance flight to India to participate at Aero India 2011. Tim Pryse flew solo from Latrobe Airport in Victoria, Australia all the way through to Bangalore, India with stops at Ayres Rock, Broome, Bali and Phuket. Highlighting the pride of Australian aircraft, the GippsAero Airvan, and continuing the malaria awareness campaign, Tim continues to 'fly the flag' of Mahindra Aerospace and Millions Against Malaria."
Daniel Martin (rear), Erem Martin and Lily Fraser preparing to undertake the first flight of the day.
