| G 115 (Tutor) | |
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| Grob G 115E Tutor | |
| Role | Basic Trainer |
| Manufacturer | Grob Aerospace |
| First flight | November 1985 |
| Introduction | 1999 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force Royal Navy |
| Unit cost | £250,000[citation needed] |
The Grob G 115 is an advanced general aviation fixed-wing aircraft, primarily used for flight training. It is built in Germany by Grob Aerospace. The E variant with a 3-blade variable pitch propeller is in Royal Air Force service as an elementary flying trainer.
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Design
The aircraft is constructed of advanced composite materials. The main fuselage and each wing is a single piece. It has a fixed Tricycle undercarriage with spatted wheels, a short nose bearing the 180 hp engine and a 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller. The cockpit features a broad canopy with good forward visibility, with side-by-side seating for pilot and student. 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.
The aircraft is capable of basic aerobatic manoeuvres (limited to +6G and -3G)
Grob Tutor
Until 2005 the Tutor was used by RAF University Air Squadrons to provide Elementary Flying Training (EFT) to university students, mainly sponsored by the RAF. From 2006 UAS students are no longer taught EFT, they follow an unassessed flying syllabus with similarities to EFT, but with reduced flying hours. The course is 36 hours with the possibility of progression to more advanced training.
RAF EFT is taught on the Grob Tutor at RAF Cranwell, Wyton and Church Fenton. These reserve squadrons teach the EFT syllabus to direct entrants and former UAS students. Afterwards the students are streamed according to ability: Fast Jet, Rotary Wing or Multi-Engine or non pilot roles.
The Tutor is used by AEFs [Air Experience Flights] to provide flying experience to cadets of the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force. The Tutor replaced the Scottish Aviation Bulldog in these roles at the turn of the century.
The Tutor fleet is owned and maintained by a civilian company, VT Aerospace, and carries British civilian G-BY** registrations under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme. The aircraft are painted overall white with blue flashes and RAF roundels.
In 2009 some tutor squadrons began to receive new build tutors with an enhanced cockpit. These enhancements include a Garmin GNS 430W GPS system, digital HSI and digital engine instruments. These aircraft all have the registration G-CG**. Other than the cockpit modifications these aircraft are exactly the same as the standard tutors with the exception of an extra arial for the new GPS system.
Operators
- Royal Air Force
- University of Birmingham UAS - RAF Cosford
- Bristol UAS - Colerne Airfield
- Cambridge UAS - RAF Wyton
- East of Scotland UAS - RAF Leuchars
- East Midlands UAS - RAF Cranwell
- Glasgow and Strathclyde UAS - Glasgow International Airport
- Liverpool UAS - RAF Woodvale
- Manchester & Salford UAS - RAF Woodvale
- Northumbrian Universities UAS - RAF Leeming
- Oxford University UAS - RAF Benson
- Southampton University Air Squadron - Boscombe Down
- University of Wales UAS - St Athan
- University of London UAS - RAF Wyton
- Yorkshire Universities UAS - RAF Church Fenton
- 1 AEF - St Athan
- 2 AEF - Boscombe Down
- 3 AEF - RAF Colerne
- 4 AEF - Glasgow International Airport
- 5 AEF - RAF Wyton
- 6 AEF - RAF Benson
- 7 AEF - RAF Cranwell
- 8 AEF - DCAE Cosford
- 9 AEF - RAF Church Fenton
- 10 AEF - RAF Woodvale
- 11 AEF - RAF Leeming
- 12 AEF - RAF Leuchars
- 16(R) Sqn - RAF Cranwell
- 57(R) Sqn - RAF Wyton
- 85(R) Sqn - RAF Church Fenton
- 115(R) Sqn - RAF Cranwell
- Egyptian Air Force operate 68 aircraft [1]
Specifications (G 115)
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General characteristics
- Crew: Max two (typically 1 student & 1 instructor)
- Length: 7.59 m (24 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 10.0 m (32 ft 8 in)
- Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 12.2 m² (131.3 ft²)
- Empty weight: 690 kg (1,518 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 990 kg (2,183 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Lycoming O-360-A1B6 4-cylinder air-cooled piston engine, 149 kW (180 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 343 km/h (185 kn, 213 mph)
- Cruise speed: 222 km/h (120 kn, 138 mph)
- Range: 1,150 km (621 nm, 719 mi)
- Service ceiling: 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 5.33 m/s (1,050 ft/min)
- Maximum fuel load: 150 l
- Maximum g-load: -3.0/+6.0 g
Incidents
There have been three major incidents in its RAF service to date. The Tutor has a good safety record when compared with its predecessors, the Scottish Aviation Bulldog and the de Havilland Chipmunk.
In June 2004, a Tutor lost a propeller blade and its canopy in flight. The aircraft was landed unpowered in a field, where damage was also sustained to the undercarriage. Both pilots were uninjured. Subsequent investigation revealed cracking in the propeller blade roots across the fleet, which was grounded for modifications.
In February 2009, two RAF Tutors operating air experience flights from RAF St Athan collided in mid-air. All four occupants were killed, a pilot and a female Air Training Corps cadet in each aircraft. The two cadets killed were cousins Nikkita Marie Walters, 13, and Katie-Jo Davies, 14. Both were members of 1004 (Pontypridd) Squadron Air Training Corps. The pilots were Fg Off Hylton Price from Bridgend and Flt Lt Andrew Marsh from Vale of Glamorgan. Both were members of 1 AEF St Athan[2]
In June 2009, a Grob Tutor collided in mid-air with a civilian glider. The two people in the Grob Tutor were killed. The glider pilot parachuted and survived.[3]
See also
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
References
- Winchester, Jim."Grob Tutor: Aircraft of the RAF Part 12". Air International, April 2009, Vol 76, No. 4. pp. 52–55.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Grob G 115 |
- Photo of Grob Tutor Cockpit
- The RAF Tutor page
- Grob Tutor G115E Review by Today's Pilot
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