Grob G 120

The Grob G 120 is a two seated training and aerobatic low-wing aircraft with a carbon composite airframe, built by Grob Aircraft. It is based on the Grob G 115TA training aircraft and is specially designed for military and civil pilots training. It has a tricycle landing gear and a low tailplane.

Grob G 120
Lufthansa Grob G 120A at the Lufthansa Airline Training Center Arizona
Role Trainer
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Grob Aircraft
First flight 1999
Status Active in production
Primary users Mexican Air Force
Kenya Air Force
Israeli Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
French Air and Space Force
Produced 1999-present
Developed from Grob G 115
Variants Grob G 120TP
G120TP variant in 2011

Design and development

The airframe is made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic and is stressed to +6/-4g. Its minimum service life is just over 15,000 flight hours.

The cockpit provides room for students wearing military equipment and helmets. The plane is equipped with movable seats and rudder pedals and an air conditioning system. A second thrust lever is available.

Variants
G 120A
Piston powered version with a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 six cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled piston aircraft engine producing 260 hp (194 kW).[1]
G 120TP
Turboprop powered version with a Rolls Royce 250-B17F aircraft engine producing 456 shp (340 kW) for take-off.[2] The Indonesian Air Force signed a contract for about 18 G 120TP trainers in the elementary and basic flying training roles in September 2011 at a cost of approx US$4 million each.[3] The Argentine Air Force bought 10 examples, and has received 4 as of July 2014.[4]

Operators
One of six G 120A of the Kenya Air Force
Grob G-120A badge worn by a Canadian military student pilot from 3 CFFTS.
Grob G120A used by RCAF
 Argentina
Fuerza Aerea Argentina: 10[5]
 Canada
KF Defence Programs: 13 [6] for training of Canadian Armed Forces (until 2013) and Royal Canadian Air Force (from 2013) pilots.[5]
 France
French Air and Space Force: 18[5]
 Germany
German Air Force: 6[5]
 Israel
Israeli Air Force: 16[5][7]
 Kenya
Kenyan Air Force: 6[5]

Specifications (G 120A)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[8]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Length: 8.605 m (28 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.19 m (33 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 2.57 m (8 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 13.29 m2 (143.1 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: Eppler E884
  • Empty weight: 960 kg (2,116 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,440 kg (3,175 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,490 kg (3,285 lb) (Utility)[9]
  • Fuel capacity: 256 litres (56 imp gal; 68 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 air-cooled flat-six, 190 kW (260 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell HC-C3YR-1RF/F7663R, 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) diameter [9]

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 319 km/h (198 mph, 172 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 307 km/h (191 mph, 166 kn) at 75% power (1,500 m (5,000 ft))
  • Stall speed: 102 km/h (63 mph, 55 kn) with full flaps
  • Never exceed speed: 435 km/h (270 mph, 235 kn)
  • Range: 1,540 km (960 mi, 830 nmi) at 8,000 ft (2,400 m) and 45% power)
  • Endurance: 6.35 hours at 10,000 ft and maximum endurance power setting[9]
  • Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
  • g limits: +6/-4G
  • Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,280 ft/min)

Avionics

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Grob Aircraft (n.d.). "The basic training aircraft success story". Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  2. Grob Aircraft (n.d.). "G 120 TP – The intelligent training solution of the 21st century". Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  3. "Indonesian win launches Grob's G120TP". FlightGlobal. 2011-09-19. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
  4. Diego Gonzalez, Buenos Aires - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly (2013-07-08). "Argentina receives new training aircraft, announces Pampa III - IHS Jane's 360". Janes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  5. "Fleet Customers". Grob Aircraft. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  6. Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Allied Wings"
  7. IDF confirms Air Force pilot, cadet killed in training mission
  8. Jackson 2003, pp. 166–167.
  9. Grob Aircraft (n.d.). "Grob 120A Technical Specifications". Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  • Grob G 115,120 and 140 Information brochure and Technical Datasheet (Grob Aerospace Sales Department, 2004)
  • Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
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