GAF N22 Nomad

Government Aircraft Factories · Australia · first flew 1971 · transport aircraft

The GAF Nomad is an Australian twin-turboprop STOL utility transport designed for bush operations, built by the Government Aircraft Factories in Melbourne from the early 1970s.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Distinctive deep slab-sided fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

High-wing twin-turboprop STOL utility transport
Distinctive deep slab-sided fuselage
Braced straight wing with fixed or retractable undercarriage

High-wing twin-turboprop with an exceptionally deep rectangular fuselage cross-section, pronounced engine nacelles, and fixed or retractable slab main undercarriage; the very straight wing and deep hull are immediately distinctive.

Specifications

The GAF N22 Nomad has a length of 12.57 m (41 ft).
It has a wingspan of 16.45 m (54 ft).
Its maximum speed is 311 km/h (193 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The Nomad was developed to provide Australia with an indigenous utility transport capable of operating from short unprepared strips across the continent's remote regions. It entered service in 1975 and was also adopted for maritime patrol, medical evacuation, and military transport roles.

Variants

The N22 was the baseline short-fuselage version; the N24 was a stretched variant; specialised sub-types included the Searchmaster maritime patrol aircraft for the Royal Australian Navy.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, Australian Army, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, and numerous civil operators; exported to the Philippines, Indonesia, and other Pacific nations.

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