Engineering:Grob G 116

G 116
Role	Civil utility aircraft
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Grob Aircraft
First flight	April 1988
Number built	1

The Grob G 116 was a civil utility aircraft developed in Germany in the late 1980s. It was an enlarged and more powerful four-seat version of the two-seat Grob G 115. Like its predecessor, it was a conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tricycle undercarriage. Also like the G 115, construction throughout was of composite materials.

Grob commenced displaying a highly realistic mock-up of the design in 1987, and a prototype flew the following year. However, by 1989 the firm became uncertain about the commercial viability of the aircraft in the face of heavy competition in the four-seat sector, and the project was first postponed and finally cancelled.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 8.50 m (27 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
• Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 15.5 m² (167 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 710 kg (1,565 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,198 kg (2,641 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Avco Lycoming O-360 , 134 kW (180 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn)
• Range: 1,200 km (745 mi, 647 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 5.0 m/s (980 ft/min)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 927. 
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 895 Sheet 14. 
• Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 200, 203. 
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1987-88. London: Jane's Yearbooks. pp. 97. 
• "Grob plans four-seat tourer". Flight International: 15. 20 June 1987. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%200989.html. Retrieved 2008-04-14. 
• "Grob 116 faces cancellation". Flight International: 6. 12 August 1989. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%202432.html. Retrieved 2008-04-14.