Grob Aerospace is slowing development of its G140TP four-seat high-performance light turboprop until it can secure a significant launch order. The German company, based in Tussenhausen-Mattsies outside Mindelheim, says it has not begun taking orders for the Rolls-Royce 250-B17F-powered aircraft, even though the first prototype has completed about 200 flight test hours.
"We have spoken to a number of potential customers who are very interested in the G140, but not yet ready to commit," says Grob sales director Hans Doll.
"We are looking for a fleet customer to order around 10 aircraft - a year's worth of production." Grob plans to complete certification late next year, about 18 months later than originally planned.
"Like the rest of our training aircraft family, the G140 is not an off-the-shelf product," says Doll. The aircraft is tailored to customers' requirements, including civilian and military training schools that have a requirement for aerobatic and upset recovery training, as well as owner-flyers. "We don't have the resources to concentrate [full time] on two programmes. Our focus is now to bring the G160 Ranger single-engine business turboprop to market. The first prototype has completed 40h of flight testing and a second aircraft is due to join the programme early next year. Certification of the €2.3 million ($3 million) aircraft is set for the fourth quarter next year.
Source: Flight International