IAI Arava

Arava
IAI Arava at the Israeli Air Force Museum
Role	Transport
Manufacturer	Israeli Aircraft Industries
First flight	27 November 1969
Status	Active
Primary users	Israeli Air Force 14 other militaries
Produced	1972–1988
Number built	103
Unit cost	$450,000 (U.S.) in 1971

The Israeli Aircraft Industries Arava (Hebrew: עֲרָבָה‎, "Willow" or "Steppe" of "Desert", named after the Aravah of the Jordan Rift Valley) is a light STOL utility transport aircraft built in Israel by IAI in the late 1960s.

The Arava was IAI's first major aircraft design to enter production. It was intended both for the military and civil market, but the aircraft was only built in relatively small numbers. The customers were found mainly in third world countries, especially in Central and South America as well as Swaziland and Thailand.

The design work on the Arava began in 1965, and the design objectives included STOL performance, the ability to operate from rough strips and carry 20 passengers or bulky payloads. To achieve this, the Arava design was of a relatively unusual configuration.

The Arava's fuselage was barrel-like, short but wide, and the rear of the fuselage was hinged and could swing open for easy loading and unloading. Its wingspan was long and the twin tails were mounted on booms that ran from the engine nacelles. It was fitted with a fixed nosewheel undercarriage to save weight, while the chosen powerplant was two 715 eshp (533 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 turboprops.

The first prototype Arava made its maiden flight on November 27, 1969. The second prototype was destroyed when a wing strut experienced flutter and failed during flight testing on November 19, 1970. The third prototype flew for the first time on May 8, 1971. Three aircraft were commandeered for use by Squadron 122 in the Yom Kippur War, but were returned afterwards. The Israeli Air Force did not purchase the aircraft until 1983, when nine aircraft were bought. Production ended in 1988. 103 aircraft were produced, including 70 for the military market. The IAF decided in 2004 to retire the aircraft. It is still in operation in some countries.