Grob G 180 SPn
The Grob G 180 SPn is a twin-engine business jet, which was designed by the German manufacturer Grob Aerospace. He is the first made entirely of carbon fiber reinforced plastic business jet in the world. By 2008, four prototypes were built. Since the insolvency of Grob Aerospace GmbH in August 2008, the future of the aircraft is uncertain.
History
The first flight of seven -to nine- seater plane was on 20 July 2005 in Memmingen mountain on the Memmingen airport. A angedachte cooperation between coarse and Pilatus Aircraft in the G 180 SPn could not be realized by concerns of the Swiss. For the aircraft 100 orders were made. The first deliveries to customers in the United States was planned for 2008. For customers in Europe, the final production and delivery from 2009 in St. Gallen -Altenrhein should be done.
The second prototype flew on 29 September 2006 for the first time, but crashed after 40 flights and 28 flight hours from completed on 29 November 2006, the test pilot Gérard Guillaumaud was killed. This prototype was equipped with the due date for the series Honeywell Primus APEX, an avionics that enables the flight with a pilot alone. In April 2010 was issued by the Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation (BFU ) a report that finds a flutter of the elevator and consequently its destruction as a cause for the crash of the prototype. The cause of the flutter could not be clearly established; It is recommended, however, "will examine the design and technical design of the tailplane [ ... ] in detail (too) ."
Early 2009, substantial parts of the insolvent company were sold to the Munich based H3 Aerospace, which continues the production of training aircraft in the Grob Aircraft AG. The rights of the project G 180 SPn transferred the main creditor to the Allied Aviation Technologies, as their chief, the former CEO of Grob Aerospace, Niall Olver, acts. He announced in March 2009 to a continuation of the project.
In September 2010, the company THEREFORE, the mother company of Socata, interest in acquiring and developing the SPn project expressed.
Construction
It is a made from carbon fiber composites low-wing monoplane with swept wings, which merge at the ends winglets. The wings have flaps and spoilers. The cell consists of 110 parts and is designed for a service life of 28,000 hours, while the factory warranty seven years applies. In the outer layer of the outer skin of aluminum fibers have been incorporated, as well as some aluminum struts are provided to provide protection against lightning.
The two FADEC - controlled engines are arranged laterally at the rear. Both the fin and the plate mounted on this at half height horizontal tail is swept. As APU can be installed in the rear a Honeywell RE100. The registration of the aircraft is performed in accordance with FAR 23 in the U.S. and CS-23 in Europe. When designing, special attention was paid to the possibility of take-offs and landings on short unpaved runways. The take-off distance over the standard barrier is only 915 m.
The passenger compartment is designed as a pressurized cabin. The entrance door with a width of 84 cm and a height of 1.37 m on the left side of the cabin. A toilet can be installed either at the rear or to the front door. In the latter case, two folding screens are provided which separate the toilet area from both the cockpit and the cabin.