Program Progress
10/15/2005 - spn Flight Test Programme Update
After nearly fifty hours of flying, the spn flight test program continues to progress to plan.
Grob Aerospace announced that the spn flight test program and the performance of the aircraft in test continues to progress perfectly to plan. Testing during the 46 flights since the spn first flew in July 2005 has focused on flight dynamics and performance, and included forward centre of gravity (CG) tests, initial Vmca flights, airflow visualisation and tests of the airbrake and trim system. Following successful completion, the flight envelope was expanded to test stability and control performance at extreme forward CG from Vscalc and up to 250 KIAS.
Grob Aerospace had also successfully completed preliminary testing of the following:
- Heavyweight & lightweight takeoff performance
- Heavyweight & lightweight landing performance
- Heavyweight multi-engine climb performance
- Heavyweight single-engine climb performance
- Mid-aft CG envelope expansion (stability & control evaluation)
- Noseboom pitot static calibrations
We will soon start tests for full stall development, engine-out minimum control speed, flutter-free demonstration, stability and control with simulated ice shapes and gear loads.
Meanwhile, the second spn prototype is on schedule to join the flight test programme to focus on system checks in early 2006.