Grob Says Turbo-Trainer Upgrade Will Offer Low-cost Competition

Grob Aircraft is developing a turboprop version of its G115/G120 series of primary trainers. Elbit Systems of Israel has joined the Austrian company in a joint venture for the G120TP, which has already flown. The new version is designed to meet India's urgent requirement for 175 basic trainers. It is powered by a 380-shp Rolls-Royce M250-B17F turboprop, has lightweight Martin Baker Mk15B ejection seats and features a three-screen Elbit avionics suite with “a high level of mission simulation and the capability for virtual tactical training,” according to Grob. The G120TP is the only side-by-side military training aircraft certified this century with full aerobatic capability, the company added. “Most of our competitors are on a declining lifecycle product cost,“ claimed Andre Hiebeler, Grob's joint CEO. Grob and Elbit are designing a tandem-seat version of the G120TP that the partners expect to compete with the Raytheon T-6 and the Pilatus PC-21.