Press Release
Issued by Green Charter 2022.
April 18, 2007
Grob Aerospace will demonstrate the spn (D-CSPN) at Europe's premier general aviation exhibition, AERO Friedrichshafen. The new business jet can be seen on static display (SD-00) between flights. Daily with an exception of Saturday the aircraft will be performing flight demonstration.
The manufacturer's debut at the Lake Constance event marks its first public debut since resuming flying on Friday 23rd February, putting the flight test program of the industry's first all-composite light jet back on track.
CEO Niall Olver is leading the management representation at the Show. "We are delighted to demonstrate the spn at this important general aviation trade fair. Situated in Central Europe, within the three-border-triangle of Switzerland, Austria and Germany, AERO Friedrichshafen is a terrific platform to the European market for general aviation. We have a lot of interest from Europe where we have amassed a number of private client customers to date and the opportunity to showcase the aircraft in our home market was too good an opportunity to miss."
SPn test aircraft No 3, which will have all the systems featured in series production aircraft including landing gear from German manufacturer Liebherr, is set to join the flight test program shortly and will be flying by the end of the second quarter this year. The final assembly of the aircraft is already in preparation at the manufacturer's Tussenhausen-Mattsies facility in Germany. Additionally, the structure for the fatigue test is under way. A fourth aircraft, which will join the flight test program in early fall 2007 will be a fully conforming test aircraft, including the interior conceived by Porsche Design Studio. It will be followed by the first series production aircraft.
Next month Grob Aerospace will have a sizeable presence at the EBACE business aviation show in Geneva (22nd-23rd May) showing for the first time a full-size mockup of the new interior designed by Porsche Design Studio.
Grob Aerospace is on course for European EASA certification during the first quarter of 2008, with US FAA certification following in the second quarter.
The SPn boasts an impressive range and payload for an aircraft in its class. With six passengers and single pilot, the aircraft can serve 1,800 nm (3334 km). The aircraft features a total cabin volume of 405 cu.ft (11.5 m?) – the largest in the light business jet class by a fair margin, and a large passenger door.
Early sales success for the industry's new generation light business jet has raised market interest with its unique operating characteristics. For example, it can operate on unimproved runways (gravel or grass), traditionally the domain of a turboprop, requiring a balanced field length of just 3,000 ft (914 m) at maximum take off weight.
The SPn will also be certified for single pilot operation, and is equipped with an avionics suite more advanced than that of any other aircraft close to its class. Honeywell's integrated all glass cockpit sets new standards for simplicity, reliability and technology. Two rear-mounted FADEC controlled Williams FJ44-3A engines deliver 2,800 lbs (1,270 kg) of thrust. The aircraft carries a price tag of € 5.8 million.
