Grob G 115

G 115 (Tutor)
Grob Tutor T1 of the Birmingham University Air Squadron, Royal Air Force
Role Basic Trainer
Manufacturer Grob Aircraft
First flight November 1985
Introduction 1999
Status Active
Primary users Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
Egyptian Air Force
British Army Air Corps



The Grob G 115 is a general aviation fixed-wing aircraft, primarily used for flight training. It is built in Germany by Grob Aircraft (Grob Aerospace before January 2009). The E variant with a 3-blade variable pitch propeller is in Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force service as an elementary flying trainer.

Design

The aircraft is constructed of carbon composite materials. The main fuselage and each wing spar is a single piece. It has a fixed (sprung steel) tricycle undercarriage with spatted wheels, a short nose bearing the 180 hp engine and a 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller. The aircraft was re-certified in 2013 with a new MT Propeller following issues with the previous design. The inverted oil system was also redesigned to improve lubrication during aerobatics. The cockpit features a broad canopy arch and spine. Forward visibility is good. The side-by-side seats are fixed and pilot seating is adjusted with cushions as well as a rudder bar adjuster. The wings are tapered with square tips and the empennage consists of a large fin and rudder with an oblong tailplane with square tips mid-set to the fuselage.

Grob G 115A of the Lancashire Aero Club at Manchester (Barton) Aerodrome in 2004 showing the vertical fin of this early version

The initial Grob G 115 and G 115A models had an upright fin and rudder and were mainly sold to civilian aeroplane clubs in Germany, the United Kingdom and several other countries.

The aircraft is capable of basic aerobatic manoeuvres (limited to +6G and -3G).

Grob 115D2 (Heron)

The Grob Heron was first bought by the Royal Navy. After its use five were bought by Tayside Aviation. There are only six recorded Herons in existence; two (to be sold) operated by Tayside Aviation, three privately owned and one in Germany. One was reported as written off after an accident.

Grob Tutor

With the retirement of the Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1 from Royal Air Force University Air Squadrons (UASs) and Air Experience Flights (AEFs), a new system was put in place for the provision of the UAS and AEF flying tasks. Aircraft were to be owned and operated by private industry, contracted to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The aircraft chosen for this task was the Grob 115E, designated Tutor T1 by the MoD. The Tutor fleet is owned and maintained by a civilian company, Babcock, and carry British civilian registrations under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme, painted overall white with blue flashes and UK Military Aircraft roundels.

Royal Navy, Army and RAF Elementary Flying Training (EFT) is taught on the Grob Tutor at RAF Cranwell and RAF Wittering by the joint 3 Flying Training School with 703 Naval Air Squadron, 674 Squadron Army Air Corps Squadron and 16 and 57 RAF Reserve Squadrons teaching the EFT syllabus to direct entrants and former UAS students, with students streamed according to ability: Fast Jet, Rotary Wing, Multi-Engine or non-pilot roles.

Until 2005 the Tutor was used by UASs to provide EFT to university students, many sponsored by the RAF. From 2006, UAS students are no longer taught EFT, they follow an unassessed flying syllabus similar to EFT, but with only a 36 hour course and the possibility of progression to more advanced training on merit. The Tutor is also used by AEFs to provide flying experience for cadets of the Air Training Corps (ATC) and Combined Cadet Force (CCF), replacing the Bulldog in these roles at the turn of the century. The final AEF to receive the Tutor was 10 AEF based at RAF Woodvale in Merseyside, in 2001. 10 AEF was incidentally also the last AEF to receive the Bulldog in 1996, replacing the Chipmunk.

Five Tutor T1s are also operated by 727 Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm for trainee pilot grading at RNAS Yeovilton.[1]

In 2009 some Tutor squadrons began to receive new Enhanced Avionics (EA) Tutors, with an updated and enhanced instrument panel, featuring a Garmin GNS 430W GPS system, digital HSI and digital engine instruments. These aircraft are the same as the standard Tutors with the exception of an extra VHF aerial for the new GPS system and the cockpit modifications.

Operators

 United Kingdom
 Canada

Ottawa Aviation Services - 3 aircraft

 Egypt
 Kenya
 Australia
 United Arab Emirates
 Norway
 Belgium
 Portugal

[3]

Specifications (G 115E/EG)

Data from http://www.grob-aircraft.eu/index.php/18.html

General characteristics

Performance

Incidents and Accidents

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ "Naval Air Squadrons: 727". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  2. ↑ Air Midwest Ltd.
  3. ↑ Operators list on Grob Aircraft website
  4. ↑ AAIB (October 2005). "AAIB Bulletin" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Search for crash clues continues". BBC News. 12 February 2009.
  6. ↑ "Inquiry investigating". BOI.
  7. ↑ AAIB. "AAIB Report6/2010". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  8. ↑ AAIB. "AAIB Report5/2010". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "RAF crew dead in 'mid-air crash'". BBC News. 14 Jun 2009.
  10. ↑ AAIB (Aug 2011). "AAIB Bulletin" (PDF).
  11. ↑ "Tutor Forced landing". ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 147889. 23 Aug 2013.
  12. ↑ "Plane crash lands in field near RAF Cranwell". BBC News. 9 Jan 2013.

External links

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