Grob G 120A

Grob · Germany · first flew 1999 · light aircraft

The Grob G 120A is an all-composite, side-by-side two-seat aerobatic trainer powered by a 260 hp Lycoming, widely used for ab-initio and screening military training.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsLow-mounted, tapered
E — Engines1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage8.61 m fuselage
T — TailConventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Look for the side-by-side two-seat bubble canopy on a low-wing composite airframe. Retractable tricycle gear and a conventional tail with a single nose-mounted propeller complete the trainer's clean lines.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Grob flew the G 120A in 1999 as a carbon-fibre primary and aerobatic trainer, building on the company's long composite pedigree. It won orders from several air arms including France, Canada, Israel and Germany. The design later spawned the turboprop G 120TP.

Variants

The piston G 120A is the sibling of the turboprop G 120TP, the latter being the version adopted for UK military flying training as the Prefect T1. It also relates to the four-seat G 140TP. All share Grob's composite construction philosophy.

Where you'll see it

While the piston G 120A itself has no UK military operator, its turboprop derivative the G 120TP serves UK Military Flying Training as the Prefect T1. The 120A trains pilots elsewhere in Europe, the Middle East and North America. Its aerobatic capability suits it to screening and elementary flying training.

Related aircraft

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