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Light STOL Transport aircraft
IAI Arava is a light STOL Transport aircraft. It was built by Israeli Aircraft Industries. Reported operators include Israeli Air Force (IAF) 14 other militaries.
IsraelIAI Arava
Bob Adams from George, South Africa · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source ↗ · ModifiedLight STOL Transport aircraft
Israeli Aircraft Industries
Out of production, limited use
Israeli Air Force (IAF) 14 other militaries
103
1972–1988
27 November 1969
2
24 fully equipped troops or 16 paratroopers or 2,351 kg (5,183 lb) payload
13.03 m (42 ft 9 in)
20.96 m (68 ft 9 in)
5.21 m (17 ft 1 in)
43.68 m 2 (470.2 sq ft)
10:1
NACA 63(215)A 417
3,999 kg (8,816 lb)
6,804 kg (15,000 lb)
1,663 L (439 US gal; 366 imp gal) (normal)
2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprops , 560 kW (750 shp) each
3-bladed Hartzell HC-B3TN fully-feathering reversible pitch propellers
326 km/h (203 mph, 176 kn) at 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn) at 3,050 m (10,000 ft) (econ. cruise)
115 km/h (71 mph, 62 kn) (54% flaps)
397 km/h (247 mph, 214 kn)
1,056 km (656 mi, 570 nmi) with maximum fuel
7,620 m (25,000 ft)
6.6 m/s (1,290 ft/min)
463 m (1,520 ft)
469 m (1,540 ft)
The Israeli Aircraft Industries Arava ( Hebrew : עֲרָבָה , "Willow" or "Steppe" or "Desert", named after the Aravah of the Jordan Rift Valley ) is a light STOL utility transport aircraft developed and produced by Israeli aerospace company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
According to aviation journalist and ex-IAI engineer Danny Shalom, substantial work on the development of what would become the Arava commenced right after the Six-Day War between Israel and several neighbouring nations. Prior to this point, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) had largely confined its aircraft manufacturing efforts to producing copies of existing French and American designs, such as the IAI Nesher . However, many of the company's engineers were keen to develop beyond imitation and reverse engineering effort, for IAI and Israel to produce its own unique and indigenously produced aircraft. Around this time, the company foresaw a requirement for a new generation of transport aircraft that would suit operations from runways only 400 meters in length. IAI had forecast the international market demand for such an aircraft to be massive and that, by obtaining only a 20% market share, the company would sell between 400 and 600 aircraft throughout the life of the programme.
As the design took shape, key performance objectives included Short-Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capability, the ability to operate the type from unprepared/rough airstrips, as well as the carriage of up to 20 passengers or bulky payloads. The Arava featured a barrel -like fuselage , being relatively short but wide, while the rear of the fuselage was hinged and could swing open for easy and rapid 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 a pair of 715 eshp (533 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 A-27 turboprop engines. The design configuration bore considerable similarity to the French Nord Noratlas transport plane, which was already being used at that time by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
Civil passenger aircraft for up to 20 people in airline-standard configuration or up to 12 passengers in VIP configuration
The military version could also be equipped with a range of weapons, in order to act in anti-submarine- or gunship roles. The weapon configuration could include two machine guns in fuselage side packs (usually 0.5" Browning), plus a third gun on the rear fuselage, and two pods containing 6 x 82 mm rocket pods or torpedoes or sonar buoys on the fuselage sides.
Bolivian Air Force – Six purchased 1975–76. One seized by Nicaragua during delivery, one in use 1987.
Ecuadorian Army – 2 in use as of December 2018. One other aircraft E-206 was written off due to a crash
Salvadoran Air Force – 3 in use as of December 2015, variant IAI Arava 202 since 2008.
Guatemalan Air Force – 1 in use as of December 2015.
Honduran Air Force – 1 in use as of December 2018.
Papua New Guinea Defence Force – 3 in use as of December 2015 but since retired.
Army of Venezuela – 11 in use as of December 2015, reducing to 4 by December 2018.
Capacity: 24 fully equipped troops or 16 paratroopers or 2,351 kg (5,183 lb) payload
Length: 13.03 m (42 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 20.96 m (68 ft 9 in)
Height: 5.21 m (17 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 43.68 m 2 (470.2 sq ft)
Empty weight: 3,999 kg (8,816 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 6,804 kg (15,000 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprops , 560 kW (750 shp) each
Maximum speed: 326 km/h (203 mph, 176 kn) at 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
Cruise speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn) at 3,050 m (10,000 ft) (econ. cruise)
Stall speed: 115 km/h (71 mph, 62 kn) (54% flaps)
Never exceed speed : 397 km/h (247 mph, 214 kn)
Range: 1,056 km (656 mi, 570 nmi) with maximum fuel
Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 6.6 m/s (1,290 ft/min)
Takeoff distance to 15 m (50 ft): 463 m (1,520 ft)
Landing run from 15 m (50 ft): 469 m (1,540 ft)
Israel 0 references
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
True scale
Sourced dimensions beside a 1.75 m human reference.
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Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept 2026 | 2 people | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
IAI Arava equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
BoliviaAir Force exact named equipment holdings: IAI-201 Arava. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: AIRCRAFT / Light. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
EcuadorArmy exact named equipment holdings: IAI-201 Arava. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: AIRCRAFT / Light. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
El SalvadorAir Force exact named equipment holdings: IAI-201 Arava. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: AIRCRAFT / Light. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
HondurasAir Force exact named equipment holdings: IAI-201 Arava. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: AIRCRAFT / Light. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
VenezuelaNational Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion) exact named equipment holdings: IAI-201 Arava. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: AIRCRAFT / Light. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
Army exact named equipment holdings: IAI-201 Arava; IAI-202 Arava. Active, operational-reserve and training units excluding equipment in store; November 2025 IISS assessment. Named service only; no parent-force or national total inferred. Source role: AIRCRAFT / Light. Original estimates, ranges, reporting names, reserve, lease and employment scopes retained; nested included counts are not added. Missile-system quantities mean launchers, not rounds. No readiness, crew, carried weapon, payload, factory-production or future order count inherited.
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