GAF Nomad, Missionmaster and Searchmaster

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 25-03-02 AT 08:10 AM (GMT)]Basically there were two versions of this plane, the snub nosed N.22B and the longer N.24A.
It was developed into three different types:

Nomad; was a transport used for para drops, troop movement and general duties.

Missionmaster; was developed more for taking troops into the front line, it had a hard point under each wing which could carry small rocket pods, machine gun pods and flares for FAC duties. Hard points were located half way out from the engine nacells.

Searchmaster; was developed as a low cost maritine partol aircraft with short field performance and rough field handeling. Utalising the Bendix/King Searchmaster L radar under it’s nose to detect shiping.

G.A.F. Nomad N.22B
TYPE: STOL utility transport
ENGINES: Two Allison 250-B17C turboprops, each of 420 shp.
DIMENSIONS:
SPAN: 54 ft 2.5 in / 16.52 m.
LENGTH: 41 ft 2.5 in / 12.56 m.
HEIGHT: 18 ft 1.5 in / 5.52 m.
PERFORMANCE:
MAX. CRUISE; 168 kts / 311 kph
INITIAL CLIMB: 1,460 ft / 445 m. per min.
RANGE: 730 nm / 1,352 km.
SERVICE CEILING: 21,000 ft / 6,400 m.
ACCOMMODATION: Flight crew of 2 plus up to 12 passengers.
WEIGHTS:
EMPTY WEIGHT: 4,741 lb / 2,150 kg
LOADED: 8,500 lb / 3,855 kg
CREW: 2

The N.24A was exactly the same but a little longer and could carry 16 passengers.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY SERVICE: 1975-
with 173 (General Support) Sqn.; School of Army Aviation
RAAF SERVICE: 1983-
one only, to Aircraft research & Development Unit
The Nomad has been described as an exercise by the Australian Government to keep the Government Aircraft Factory occupied between the time it stopped building the Mirage and began work on the Hornet. Production only came to 172 aircraft between 1971 and 1984.
The Australian Army was first to receive the 12-seat N.22. When production ended there were several unsold Nomads in storage (some had gone to countries to whom Australia was giving foreign aid). Many of these were passed to the Australian military, and others found their way to civilian ownership. Some 30-odd Nomads were in civilian hands in the late 1980s, and under half that number by the late 1990s.

Full list of Millitary Nomads:
http://www.worldmiltair.co.uk/aircraft/aaaacaaads.htm

Photos are:
1. PAF Nomad
2. RTAF Nomad pre delivery
3. RTAF Nomad
4. PAF Missionmasters
5. TNI-AL Searchmaster

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“We the unknowing who have been doing so much for so long with so little, now attempt to do the impossible with nothing”!

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