Story ID: 
In The Works: Grob G160 Ranger
By: AIN Staff
Caption: The four-seat G-140TP made its first flight just last December and is now under flight test, but the German light airplane manufacturer is already developi
Word Count: 182
The four-seat G-140TP made its first flight just last December and is now under flight test, but the German light airplane manufacturer is already developing a larger seven-seat derivative, dubbed the G160 Ranger. Like the fuselage and wings of the G140TP, these components on the G160 will be made from carbon-fiber composites, but the company is switching engine manufacturers, giving the larger airplane the 850-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A while the smaller one is powered by the 450-shp Rolls-Royce 250-B17F.Seating in the G160s 18-foot-long, 5.1-foot-wide cabin is in a 2+4+1 configuration; max cabin height is 4.7 feet. Projected performance includes a max cruise speed of 270 knots, max range of 2,200 nm and range with six passengers and one pilot of 1,800 nm. Max useful load is estimated to be 1,590 pounds. Target price is under E1 million (currently $1.15 million). The first G160 prototype is under assembly at Grob’s facility in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Bavaria, and the company expects to exhibit it at the upcoming Paris Air Show this month. First flight of the Grob Ranger is planned for this summer.