The aircraft is constructed of carbon composite materials. The main fuselage and each wing spar is a single piece. It has a fixed (sprung steel) tricycle undercarriage with spatted wheels, a short nose housing the 180 horsepower (130 kilowatts) piston engine, and a 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller. The aircraft was re-certified in 2013 with a new MT Propeller following issues with the previous design.[clarification needed] The inverted oil system was also redesigned to improve lubrication during aerobatics. The cockpit features a broad canopy arch and spine. Forward visibility is good. The side-by-side seats are fixed, and pilot seating is adjusted with cushions as well as a rudder bar adjuster. 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.
Grob G 115A of the Lancashire Aero Club at Manchester (Barton) Aerodrome in 2004 showing the vertical fin of this early version.
The initial Grob G 115 and G 115A models had an upright fin and rudder, and were mainly sold to civilian aeroplane clubs in Germany, the United Kingdom, and several other countries.
The Grob Heron was first bought by the Royal Navy. After its use, five were bought by Tayside Aviation. There are only six recorded Herons in existence; two (to be sold) operated by Tayside Aviation, three privately owned, and one in Germany. One was reported as written off after an accident.[3]
Until 2005, the Tutor was used by UASs to provide EFT to university students, many sponsored by the RAF. From 2006, UAS students are no longer taught EFT; they follow an unassessed flying syllabus similar to EFT, but with only a 36hour course and the possibility of progression to more advanced training on merit. The Tutor is also used by AEFs to provide flying experience for cadets of the Air Training Corps (ATC) and Combined Cadet Force (CCF), replacing the Bulldog in these roles at the turn of the century. The final AEF to receive the Tutor was 10 AEF, based at RAF Woodvale in Merseyside, in 2001. 10 AEF was incidentally also the last AEF to receive the Bulldog in 1996, replacing the Chipmunk T10.
Grob G 115E Tutor T1 of the RAF arrives at the 2019 RIAT, England.
In 2009, some Tutor squadrons began to receive new Enhanced Avionics (EA) Tutors, with an updated and enhanced instrument panel, featuring a Garmin GNS 430W GPS system, digital HSI, and digital engine instruments.[citation needed] These aircraft are the same as the standard Tutors, with the exception of an extra VHF aerial for the new GPS system and the cockpit modifications.
Range: 1,150km (710mi, 620nmi) (45% power at FL80, 45 min reserves)
Service ceiling: 6,095m (20,000ft)
g limits: +6.0/-3.0
Rate of climb: 5.3m/s (1,050ft/min)
Incidents and accidents
On 29 June 2004, an RAF Tutor (G-BYXJ) 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. Subsequent investigation revealed cracking in the propeller blade roots across the fleet, which was grounded for modifications. No-one was injured in the incident.[14]
On 11 February 2009, two RAF Tutors (G-BYUT and G-BYVN) operating air experience flights from RAF St Athan collided in mid-air. All four occupants were killed, an RAF pilot and a female Air Training Corps cadet in each aircraft. The two cadets killed were cousins aged 13 and 14, both were members of 1004 (Pontypridd) Squadron Air Training Corps.[15][16][17]
In June 2009, a Grob Tutor (G-BYXR) collided in mid-air with a civilian glider (G-CKHT). The two people in the Grob Tutor were killed. The glider pilot parachuted and survived.[18][19]
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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