Grob’s Ranger G160 has successfully completed its maiden flight. The German company flew the first prototype of the seven-seater turboprop from its plant’s airport.

Test pilot Ulrich Schell and

co-pilot Toni Uhl were impressed

by its “rapid acceleration and impressive climb rate.”

As with all Grob aircraft, its fuselage is constructed with carbon fibre composites, which reportedly make it very robust and economical to operate.

The Ranger, which succeeds the G140, is powered by the Pratt and Whitney PT6A-42A engine and can reach a maximum cruise speed of 240 knots at 850hp.

It has a maximum range of

2,200 miles (1,800 miles when fully loaded) and its maximum useful

load is 720kg.

The aircraft features a Honeywell EFS40, the same electronic flight information system used in the G120A and G140TP, and from 2006 it will be available with Honeywell’s APEX integrated cockpit system.

The APEX system features digital radios, flight management, digital autopilot, two primary flight displays, a mode S transponder,

an engine monitoring system and

an EGPWS.\r

Other optional extras include: a weather radar, a traffic alert and collision-avoidance system (TCAS) and a flight information system.

The cabin is five metres long, 1.42 metre high and 1.58 metres wide. It contains fold-out tables, individual reading lamps, power points and a toilet with washstand. An onboard bar and an eighth seat (instead of the toilet) can be installed as optional extras.

As EBAN goes to press, the Ranger will be making its debut at the ILA 2004 aerospace show in Berlin, from May 10 to 16.