Grob G 520
| Grob G 520 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Grob G 520T | |
| Role | High altitude and reconnaissance aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Grob Aircraft |
| First flight | 24 June 1987 |
| Introduction | 1991 |
| Number built | 6 |
The Grob G 520 is a turboprop long endurance, high altitude reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft built by Grob Aircraft with short runway capabilities and full approval for all-weather IFR/icing operations acc. to LBA/FAA Part 23 regulations. Developed and certified in 1991, the Grob G 520 is one of the world’s largest fully composite manned aircraft and a several world record holder, whose production is resumed in 2014.
The Grob G 520 ‘EGRETT’ (former Grob/E-Systems/AlliedSignal Egrett – its name is derived from the three companies involved in its design: E-Systems, Grob Aircraft, and Garrett, the latter firm later changing its name to AlliedSignal) is a surveillance aircraft developed in Germany in the 1980s by an international partnership. It was intended to fill a joint German Air Force – US Air Force requirement for a high-altitude, long-duration surveillance platform for treaty verification and environmental monitoring. Known as "LAPAS" (Luftgestütztes, abstandsfähiges Primär-Aufklärungssystem, engl: airborne, long distance primary reconnaissance system) in Germany and "Senior Guardian" in the US, the program initially attempted to acquire the Lockheed TR-1 (U-2) for this role, but when this did not succeed, a new aircraft was sought.
The initial D-450 EGRETT I development aircraft flew in 1987, and in September the following year set a class altitude record of 16,329.35 m (53,573.96 ft). Two pre-production machines followed in 1989 and 1990 as the D-500 EGRETT II and then fitted out to the finalized G 520 design in 1991. These latter two aircraft were owned by E-Systems and Grob respectively, and used for promotional purposes: E-Systems' for various sensor packages, and Grob's (renamed the Strato 1) to market the design to civil authorities as a resource management platform.
In 1992, the German Air Force placed an order for production of nine EGRETT IIs, to be supplemented by G 520T two-seat trainer and one of the demonstrators. However, in February 1993, before much production had taken place, the whole program was cancelled when Eastern Europe ceased to be perceived as a threat. The two-seater-version G 520T was completed and sold to Airborne Research Australia in Adelaide. In 2014, Grob Aircraft repurchased the G 520T and flew it back to Germany. The repainted aircraft will be presented to the public during the Farnborough Airshow 2014, simultaneously as kick-off for resuming the production of the G 520T.
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