Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia

The Grob G180 SPn is a low-wing twin-engined composite corporate jet designed and built by German aircraft manufacturer Grob Aerospace. Development was suspended during 2008 in response to the Grob's insolvency; since then, multiple efforts have been made to re-launch the programme. Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has bought the Intellectual Property rights of the aircraft and will manufacture it in India.[

By the turn of the century, German aircraft manufacturer Grob Aerospace had established itself as a producer of motor gliders and trainer aircraft. However, during the mid-2000s, the company decided to embark on designing a jet-powered light aircraft; development work was carried out in relative secrecy at Grob's Tussenhausen-Mattsies facility. In response to perceived market demand, this aircraft would possess both the short-field and cargo-carrying performance traditionally associated with turboprop-powered aircraft, as well as the extensive use of composite materials. The requirements of the aircraft were defined in close collaboration with the Swiss-based company ExecuJet Aviation Group. Grob Aerospace president Dr Andreas Plesske stated of the design: "We have created a new category of jet aircraft"

Variants

During May 2005, the first prototype was completed; the first handful of sales were secured within the following weeks. During June 2005, the programme's existence was publicly revealed. On 20 July 2005, the first prototype performed its maiden flight, flown by chief test pilot Gérard Guillaumaud, who later commented that: "During the flight, all systems and controls performed as expected...The aircraft was easy to handle and was a pleasure to fly". By this point, ExecuJet Aviation Group has been appointed the exclusive worldwide sales distributor and maintenance support partner for the aircraft; Execujet stated it had forecast sales of roughly 400 aircraft over the next 10 years within the utility business jet market, for which the SPn was viewed as the sole option available.^] During May 2006, a six-seat VIP cabin configuration was revealed for the type During November 2006, Grob stated that it had received significant interest in the development of a stretched variant of the aircraft being produced, including for surveillance purposes as a cost-effective alternative to the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. Plans for a family of aircraft based on the type were mooted

Grob Aircraft Tata Advanced Systems Limited

Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt
Grob G180 SPn corporate jet

General Info

Crew: 1 pilot
Capacity: 9 passengers
Length: 14.81 m (48 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 14.86 m (48 ft 9 in)

Powerplant

Height: 5.12 m (16 ft 9.5 in) Gross weight: 6,300 kg Powerplant: 2 × Williams FJ44-3A turbofans , 12.44 kN (2,800 lbf) thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: 753 km/h (468 mph
Maximum speed: Mach 0.70
Stall speed: 143 km/h (89 mph
Range: 3,425 km (2,128 mi, 1,849 nmi)
Service ceiling: 12,500 m (41,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 22 m/s (4,360 ft/min)

Related development

Special Links Grob Aircraft Tata Advanced Systems Limited

Links to Youtube & Others

The Bf 108A first flew in 1934, followed by the Bf 108B in 1935. The Bf 108B used the substantially larger, 12.67 litre displacement Argus As 10 air-cooled inverted V8 engine. The nickname Taifun (German for "typhoon") was given to her own aircraft by Elly Beinhorn, a well-known German pilot, and was generally adopted

Grob G180 SPn corporate jet

Development of the type continue and in 1935 the Bf 108B appeared with the fin and rudder having undergone modifications.

Youtube Link

Conceived as a competitive aircraft the Bf 108 would take part in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Grob Aircraft,
formerly Grob Aerospace
Grob G180 SPn corporate jet