Press Release
Issued by Green Charter 2022.
March 29, 2007
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 20 th 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.
