Grob G 120#G 120A

{{Infobox aircraft

|name= Grob G 120

|image= File:Grob G120A (cropped).jpg

|caption= A Grob G 120A from a Canadian flight school

|type= Trainer

|national_origin= Germany

|manufacturer= Grob Aircraft

|designer=

|first_flight= 1999

|introduction=

|retired=

|status= Active in production

|primary_user= French Air and Space Force

|more_users= Israeli Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
German Air Force

|produced= 1999-present

|number_built=

|developed_from= Grob G 115

|variants= Grob G 120TP

}}

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 retractable tricycle landing gear and a low tailplane.

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.{{Cite web |title=G 120TP - GROB AIRCRAFT SE |url=https://grob-aircraft.com/en/g-120tp.html |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=grob-aircraft.com}}

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|date=November 2023}} A second thrust lever is available.

Variants

;{{visible anchor|G 120A}}

:Piston powered version with a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 six cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled piston aircraft engine producing {{convert|260|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web |title=G 120A: High-performance training and aerobatics |url=https://grob-aircraft.com/en/g-120-general.html?file=files/content/PDFs/G120A/G120A_Spec_Sheet_R1.pdf |access-date=November 7, 2023 |website=Grob Aircraft |format=PDF}}

;G 120TP

:Turboprop powered version with a Rolls-Royce 250-B17F aircraft engine producing {{convert|456|shp|kW|0|abbr=on}} for take-off and 380 shp (283 kW) for maximum cruise.

Operators

File:Grob G 120A Kenya Airforce.jpg]]

File:Grob G-120A badge.JPG ]]

File:C-FPFJ G120A.jpg

;{{CAN}}

KF Defence Programs: 14[http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/RchSimp.aspx Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Allied Wings"] for training of Canadian Armed Forces (until 2013) and Royal Canadian Air Force (from 2013) pilots.{{cite web|url=https://grob-aircraft.com/en/company-portrait.html#1|title=Fleet Customers|publisher=Grob Aircraft|access-date=2022-02-26}}

;{{FRA}}

French Air and Space Force: 18

;{{GER}}

German Air Force: 6

;{{ISR}}

Israeli Air Force: 17[https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/11/24/2-killed-in-plane-crash-in-southern-israel/ IDF confirms Air Force pilot, cadet killed in training mission] The Snunit used by the IAF has a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 engine that produces a maximum speed of {{convert|235|km/h|kn|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite news |url=https://www.iaf.org.il/901-20575-en/IAF.aspx?indx=1 |publisher=Israeli Air Force |title=GROB G-120A (Hebrew nickname: 'Snunit' ('Swallow')) }}

;{{KEN}}

Kenya Air Force: 6

Specifications (G 120A)

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004Jackson 2003, pp. 166–167.

|prime units?=met

|genhide=

|crew=Two

|capacity=

|length m=8.605

|length ft=

|length in=

|length note=

|span m=10.19

|span ft=

|span in=

|span note=

|height m=2.57

|height ft=

|height in=

|height note=

|wing area sqm=13.29

|wing area sqft=

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=Eppler E884

|empty weight kg=960

|empty weight lb=

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=1440

|gross weight lb=

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=1490

|max takeoff weight lb=

|max takeoff weight note=(Utility){{cite web|url = http://www.grob-aircraft.eu/technical-specification-13.html|title = Grob 120A Technical Specifications |accessdate = 20 March 2012|last = Grob Aircraft|author-link = Grob Aircraft|date = n.d.}}

|fuel capacity={{convert|256|L}}

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5

|eng1 type= air-cooled flat-six

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=260

|prop blade number=3

|prop name=Hartzell HC-C3YR-1RF/F7663R

|prop dia m=1.98

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop dia note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=

|max speed kts=172

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=

|cruise speed kts=166

|cruise speed note= at 75% power ({{convert|5000|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}})

|stall speed kmh=

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed kts=55

|stall speed note=with full flaps

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed kts=235

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=

|range miles=

|range nmi=830

|range note=at {{convert|8000|ft|m|abbr=on}} and 45% power)

|combat range km=

|combat range miles=

|combat range nmi=

|combat range note=

|ferry range km=

|ferry range miles=

|ferry range nmi=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=6.35 hours at 10,000 ft and maximum endurance power setting

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=18000

|ceiling note=

|g limits=+6/-4G

|roll rate=

|glide ratio=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=1280

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|wing loading lb/sqft=

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass=

|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

|avionics=*Garmin avionics

}}

References

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

{{cite web |url=http://www.grob-aircraft.eu/basic-information-12.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305132418/http://www.grob-aircraft.eu/basic-information-12.html |archive-date=2011-03-05 |title=Grob 120A official website |url-status=dead}}

Category:1990s German sport aircraft

Category:Grob aircraft

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Low-wing aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1999