The second prototype participating in the flight test and certification programme of Grob Aerospace’s spn, made its first successful flight today, 29 September 2006. At the controls were Grob Aerospace test pilots, Gerard Guillaumaud and Alan Lawless. After performing initial handling tests and system checks, the aircraft landed again safely after 35 minutes. According to chief test pilot Guillaumaud, “It was a real pleasure to fly our second prototype today and by that we achieved an important mile stone in our test program”. The flight today took off from the company airport in Tussenhausen-Mattsies and was also first maiden flight of a spn jet aircraft from here. The aircraft will immediately join the flight test program

Dubbed P2, the second spn prototype is the first aircraft to be equipped with an enhanced version of the Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite, which offers the most user friendly and state of the art cockpit available for light jets. The enhanced Primus Apex reduces pilot workload, which particularly benefits single-pilot operation, and allows greater integration of future avionics upgrades and options.
The flight envelope of the spn has been now fully opened in flight tests on the first prototype, P1, and production of the third prototype, P3, is poised to start in early October for entry into service in early 2007.

The spn, which carries a price tag of €5.8 million, is on target for European EASA certification during the third quarter of 2007 and for US FAA certification during fourth quarter 2007. First customer deliveries are to commence in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Niall Olver, CEO of Grob Aerospace said “This is an important step forward in the spn flight test and certification programme and the enhanced Primus Apex avionics suite is the first in service and will offer major benefits to all operators”.

About Grob Aerospace – 35 Years of Aviation History
Grob Aerospace was founded in 1971 and its history spans 35 years. The company is headquartered in Switzerland but maintains its own purpose built airfield in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany that accommodates its manufacturing and assembly facilities. Grob Aerospace is one of the world’s largest and the most experienced composite aircraft manufacturer. It has delivered more than 3,500 aircraft that have flown over seven million hours on five continents.

Editor’s Note:
The spⁿ is named in recognition of its ‘Special Performance; Superior Payload and Single Pilot ability. All are abbreviated to spⁿ – the sp to the “nth” degree.

For further information contact:
Elisabeth Palander              
Marketing Coordinator               
Grob Aerospace AG              
+41 44 876 56 82              
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Celia Turner/ Helen Stevens
Emerald Media
+44 7703 344425 / +44 1962 736600
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Original Release