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03/29/07 - First G 120A-F Trainer delivered to French Air Force Training School in Cognac

The arrival of the first two Grob Aerospace G 120A-F training aircraft at the French Air Force Flight Training School on the Cognac Air Base was celebrated today in a ceremony marking an important step in the EADS programme to modernise the “ab initio” pilot training for the French Air Force (FAF). Present at the event were French Air Force Chief of Staff, General Stéphane Abrial, and Johann Heitzmann, CEO of Military Air Systems at EADS Defence & Security (DS

The G 120A-F is a variant of the G 120A, modified to meet demanding specifications set by the French Air Force for “ab initio” pilot training. Grob Aerospace has a contract with EADS Military Air Systems to supply a total of 18 aircraft with options for further aircraft. Delivery will be at the rate of two aircraft per month with the entire fleet in place by the end of 2007. Grob Aerospace is also providing a comprehensive spares package and long term support services for the aircraft.

“The selection of the G 120A-F to meet the FAF’s challenging training requirements is a significant endorsement of the aircraft as the most versatile and cost effective trainer in its class”, said Niall Olver, Chief Executive, Grob Aerospace. 

The first flight of the G 120A-F variant took place on February 20th 2007 from Grob Aerospace’s airfield and production facility at Tussenhausen-Mattsies in Germany. Certification of the modifications was completed by the LBA for the European Aviation Safety Agency 22nd March 2007.

First flown in 1999, the G 120A is a cost effective and versatile training aircraft which meets the most challenging forms of military primary flying training. It is certified for full aerobatics and for flying under IFR (Instrument Flight Rules). It is designed with a twin-seat side-by-side cockpit and robust retractable undercarriage

Like all other Grob aircraft the G120A airframe is manufactured entirely from carbon fibre composite, which gives it a competitive advantage by offering high strength and long fuselage life, lightweight construction and associated low fuel consumption and low maintenance costs.   

Grob Aerospace is a leader in military training aircraft with numerous NATO Air Forces using its aircraft for pilot training, including the Royal Air Force, German Air Force, Canadian Air Force, Israeli Air Force and United Arab Emirates Air Force. It has sold over 400 G 115 and G 120 trainers since 1987.  

About the G 120A

The G120A is a cost effective and versatile light aircraft, specifically designed to meet the most challenging forms of primary pilot training. It is certified by both the EASA and the FAA to +6/-4 g. The aircraft is fitted with its powerful 260 hp Lycoming engine. It provides the ideal training platform for the full range of conventional high-performance aerobatic maneuvers, including spins, inverted spins, loops, rolls, stall turns, outside turns and recovery from unusual attitudes. This versatile aircraft also offers excellent handling at both high and low airspeeds, making it ideal to tackle the full spectrum of primary training requirements, including pilot screening, instrument flying, navigation and mission oriented tasks which previously required two different aircraft types.