News

11/21/07 - Grob highlights G 120A Trainer’s achievements in service with world’s most demanding air forces

At the Dubai Air Show 2007, Grob Aerospace is highlighting the G 120A’s achievements in service with some of the world’s most demanding air forces, proving its superiority as the most versatile and cost effective primary military trainer. German, Israeli, Canadian and French Air Forces have selected the G 120A to fulfill their initial flight training requirements

Its versatility and cost effectiveness has been demonstrated by a repeat order placed in June this year to expand the Canadian Air Force’s fleet of nine G 120A-C to eleven because more advanced tasks, usually conducted on more expensive aircraft, could be “downloaded” onto the G 120A-C. Certified for full aerobatics and for flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) with part-glass cockpit, the G 120A has proved to be an outstanding training platform capable of delivering full “ab initio” training.  

In September 2007 the G 120A fleet leader in terms of flight hours and landings, the German Air Force, demonstrated the aircraft’s robustness and reliability by achieving the milestone of 20,000 flying hours training pilots. The fleet of six G 120As is operated by launch customer, Lufthansa Flight Training, at its training base in Phoenix, Arizona. Since entering service in July 2002 the 3rd German Air Force Training Squadron has trained 43 classes totaling nearly 400 students on the G 120As. Now many of these students fly on Tornado, Eurofighter and other operational aircraft at the German Air Force.   

Later this month the final G 120A-F aircraft including modifications for the French Air Force is due to be handed over to EADS Military Air Systems to complete the 18 aircraft fleet operated from the French Air Force Flight Training School at Cognac. This first aircraft was accepted in March 2007 and the fleet is due to enter full service in November.

“The G 120A is the primary trainer of choice for the world’s most demanding air forces and has proved itself in service by meeting and exceeding expectations in terms of its capability and efficiency”, said Denzil White, Director Special Mission and Training Aircraft, Grob Aerospace.

Powered by a six-cylinder Lycoming engine delivering 260 hp of thrust and with a length of 26.46 ft and wingspan of 33.43 ft, the twin-seat G 120A can reach a maximum operating altitude of 18,000 ft and withstand a load up to +6g / -4g under aerobatic conditions. Like all other Grob aircraft the G 120A 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. Its first flight was in 1999.

The training fleets, operating mainly in private-military co operations, are producing more than 60,000 flight hours each year. The Grob Customer and Product Support provides the professional back-up to the customers with parts and technical assistance helping them to achieve the high availability rates required in this type of commercial operation.