IAI Arava

     Notes: This is an Israeli cargo aircraft that has also found use as a special missions aircraft in the Israeli Air Force.  However, the IAF was mostly unimpressed with Arava and only employed a relatively few Aravas. Many versions exist, such as EW, ELINT, ESM, reconnaissance, and others.  It is also used to deliver special teams behind enemy lines due to its ability to fly low and maneuverable. The Arava is also in service with Thailand and several Latin American and African countries. The Arava’s primary success was in the export market, and several civilian sales were made to commuter airlines. Regardless, only a total of 103 Aravas were built, with most customers employing only a handful of Aravas.

     The rear end of the fuselage hinges to the right for bulk cargo loading, and there are also doors on each side.  The Arava consists of a barrel-like center fuselage and twin tail booms which extend from the engine nacelles. The aircraft does not have ejection seats and is not capable of in-flight refueling.  The two hardpoints are on the fuselage and normally carry machinegun pods or rockets. The 201 is the base military model, with a pair of PT6A-34 turboprops developing 750 horsepower each. The 202 is the upgraded military model, with strengthened wing struts (in the 201, excessive flutter could develop and tear the wings off the fuselage), and wet wings (containing fuel tanks). The 202 is also powered by PT6A-36 turboprops which are a little more powerful at 783 horsepower; however, the entire aircraft is also much heavier. The 101 is the civilian counterpart of the 201, with 20 airline-type seats, a baggage hold at the rear, and pressurization; the 102 is the civilian version of the 202. Neither have hardpoints. (They are otherwise not detailed here.) One variant is the SIGINT model, which will not be detailed here due to lack of information, but presumably carries ELINT gear and has several bulges in the fuselage for antennas.