In The Works: Grob Aerospace SPn

Grob has delayed certification of its all-composite SPn utility jet from the first quarter until the fourth quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the third flight-test aircraft left Grob’s headquarters in Tussen- hausen-Mattsies, Germany, on January 28 for three months of flight testing in Granada, Spain, at facilities managed by the Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial at the Spanish Ministry of Defence. Grob sent a team of 20 specialists led by chief test pilot Peter Weger to support the test SPn. Focus of the flight testing is flight characteristics and performance, testing of the avionics, hydraulics, environmental control system and landing gear and full opening of the high-speed envelope. The third SPn was scheduled to return to Germany for icing trials in Northern Europe by this month.