IAI Arava 201

Israel Aircraft Industries · Israel · first flew 1969 · transport aircraft

The IAI Arava 201 is an Israeli twin-turboprop STOL transport developed by Israel Aircraft Industries for military and civil utility operations.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsHigh-mounted, straight
E — Engines2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — FuselageStubby barrel-shaped fuselage pod ahead of the twin tail booms
T — TailTwin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Instantly recognisable by its twin-tail boom layout, high straight wing, boxy fuselage with rear ramp, and twin turboprops; the short nose gives it a stubby appearance.

Specifications

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

History

The Arava was Israel's first indigenous transport aircraft, first flying in 1969. It was designed with STOL performance in mind for operations from unprepared strips, and the 201 variant featured an uprated powerplant and improved avionics over the initial 101 model.

Variants

Variants include the Arava 101 (civil), 102, 201 (military), and 202; the 201 added more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 engines.

Where you'll see it

The Arava served with the Israel Defense Forces and was exported to several countries in Central America, Africa, and Asia.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.