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In the Works: Grob G140TP
By: AIN Staff
Caption: Grob, the aerospace division of Germany’s Grob-Werke (which builds milled parts for the automobile industry), has extended its estimated certification date
Word Count: 260
Grob, the aerospace division of Germany’s Grob-Werke (which builds milled parts for the automobile industry), has extended its estimated certification date of the G140TP turboprop single to the first quarter of next year from late fall this year, according to Andreas Strohmayer, Grob CEO. He told AIN that static testing of the fuselage was expected to begin last month and testing of the wing would follow afterward. The sole G140TP test aircraft, powered by a 450-shp Rolls-Royce 250-B17F turboprop, has accumulated more than 200 hours of flight testing since its first flight in December 2002, said Strohmayer. A derivative of the aerobatic two-seat G120 piston single, the four-seat G140TP maintains the G120’s aerobatic capabilities. Without exception, all Grob’s aircraft are all-composite designs.
The G140TP is Grob’s first entry into the civil turboprop market, leading the way for the larger, seven-seat G160 Ranger, also a single and expected to be certified after certification of the G140TP next year. Strohmayer said the original requirement for the G140TP was as a four-seat navigation trainer for the military, to complement G120s already or soon-to-be delivered in training roles for the air forces of the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Israel and Canada. However, he now expects about half of G140TP sales will be to private owners interested in “a fully aerobatic, four-seat business airplane.” He said the company is doing demo flights in the airplane almost every week. Priced in euros the G140TP lists for d1 million (about $1.2 million).