Grob G 120

The Grob G 120 is a two-seat 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
A Grob G 120A from a Canadian flight school
General information
Type	Trainer
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Grob Aircraft
Status	Active in production
Primary users	French Air and Space Force Israeli Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force German Air Force
History
Manufactured	1999-present
First flight	1999
Developed from	Grob G 115
Variants	Grob G 120TP

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.^[1]

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.^{[citation needed]} A second thrust lever is available.^[1]

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).^[2]

G 120TP

Turboprop powered version with a Rolls-Royce 250-B17F aircraft engine producing 456 shp (340 kW) for take-off and 380 shp (283 kW) for maximum cruise.^[1]

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

 Canada

• KF Defence Programs: 14^[3] for training of Canadian Armed Forces (until 2013) and Royal Canadian Air Force (from 2013) pilots.^[4]

 France

• French Air and Space Force: 18^[4]

 Germany

• German Air Force: 6^[4]

 Israel

• Israeli Air Force: 17^[4][5] The Snunit used by the IAF has a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 engine that produces a maximum speed of 235 km/h (127 kn).^[6]

 Kenya

• Kenya Air Force: 6^[4]

Specifications (G 120A)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004^[7]

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)^[8]
• 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 ^[8]

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^[8]
• Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
• g limits: +6/-4G
• Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,280 ft/min)

Avionics

• Garmin avionics

See also

Related development

• Grob G 115
• Grob G 120TP

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Aermacchi SF.260
• Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
• ENAER T-35 Pillán
• Fuji T-3
• Lasta 95
• PAC CT/4 Airtrainer
• Socata TB-31 Omega

References

1. "G 120TP - GROB AIRCRAFT SE". grob-aircraft.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
2. "G 120A: High-performance training and aerobatics" (PDF). Grob Aircraft. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
3. Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Allied Wings"
4. "Fleet Customers". Grob Aircraft. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
5. IDF confirms Air Force pilot, cadet killed in training mission
6. "GROB G-120A (Hebrew nickname: 'Snunit' ('Swallow'))". Israeli Air Force.
7. Jackson 2003, pp. 166–167.
8. 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.

External links

• "Grob 120A official website". Archived from the original on 5 March 2011.