GippsAero Signs Muncie Aviation as Dealer for Midwestern US for Sales and Service of the GA8 Airvan

March 28, 2012
Muncie will represent GippsAERO products across a 13-state territory in the Midwestern U.S., covering the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois.

Lakeland, FL, March 27, 2012: GippsAERO, the Australian based manufacturer of the GA8 Airvan utility aircraft, and a subsidiary of India's Mahindra Aerospace, today announced the appointment of Muncie Aviation as its authorized dealer for the Midwestern United States.

Muncie Aviation, in operation since 1932, is a long established sales dealer for high-performance Turbo Props, Turbo Charged and piston aircraft, and is recognized as one of the finest aircraft maintenance and avionics service facilities, as well as a well-stocked source for parts through facilities in Muncie, IN. Muncie will represent GippsAERO products across a 13-state territory in the mid-western U.S., covering the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois.

Mr. Arvind Mehra, Executive Director & CEO, Mahindra Aerospace, said, “We are proud to welcome Muncie Aviation to our US dealer network and believe that Muncie will help us deliver exceptional value to the North American market and our current GA8 owners and future customers.”

Mr. Martin Ingram, President Muncie Aviation said, “We are very excited about the opportunity to represent GippsAERO,” Mr. Ingram believes the utility and versatility of the GA8 fills a unique market niche. “March 7th marked 80 years of business for us, and offering the GA8 to our customers is a great way to celebrate.”The GA8 Airvan is a single-engine, piston powered aircraft, available in a normally-aspirated or turbocharged version.  The GA8 allows for seven individual forward-facing passenger seats and up to 32 cu.ft. of baggage space, with a large, comfortable cabin with center aisle and easy access. The performance envelope and cabin design allows the aircraft to be used across a broad range of demanding missions including passenger transport, freight transportation, special missions, law enforcement, humanitarian aid, search and rescue, ambulance / medivac, among others.  Certified to U.S. FAR23 Amendment 54/55, the Airvan is designed and built to the highest standard of structural integrity and flight handling characteristics, and boasts of a low noise footprint and low carbon emissions, while being versatile, rugged, safe and economical.

Building on the success of the GA8, GippsAERO is in the flight testing phase of their development program to bring the GA10 single-engine turbo-prop powered 10-seat aircraft to market.  Construction of the manufacturing facility for the GA10 has begun in Australia, and Australian and FAA certification is expected in early 2013.

Dr. Terry Miles, CEO of GippsAERO, added “As a well-established and respected dealer in the mid-west, Muncie represents a great addition to our network in the US, and will extend the range of services available to GA8 clients in the region. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with the company.”
 
About GippsAERO/Mahindra Aerospace
GippsAero, the Australian manufacturer of the GA8 AIRVAN, is the aircraft manufacturing division of Mahindra Aerospace. The company has manufactured in excess of 200 aircraft, which fly in 34 countries around the world, including USA, Australia, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Mahindra Aerospace is the aircraft and aero-structure manufacturing division of Mahindra Systech, and a new global player in the delivery of aircraft, aero-structures and aircraft development services. With its acquisition of two Australia-based aviation companies, Aerostaff Australia – producer of aerospace components for the world’s OEMs – and GippsAERO – producer of the Airvan family of utility aircraft – Mahindra Aerospace has laid the foundations towards achieving its goals.

About The Mahindra Group
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership. Mahindra has a presence in the automotive industry, agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel and two wheelers. 
 A US $14.4 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 144,000 people in over 100 countries.
 
In 2011, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. Dun & Bradstreet also ranked Mahindra at No. 1 in the automobile sector in its list of India’s Top 500 Companies. In 2010, Mahindra featured in the Credit Suisse Great Brands of Tomorrow.

In 2011, Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company.

For further information, please visit www.mahindra.com

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