Concept Study For GROB HALE G 600 Initiated

Following its successful debut of the prototype aircraft at the Paris Air Show, GROB Aerospace indicated that it is studying possible new design concepts for the GROB SPn Utility Jet. Among the possible concepts being considered is a new HALE aircraft, the G 600, designed specifically for High Altitude and Long Endurance surveillance missions.

A next logical step is combining GROB's heritage in building high altitude surveillance aircraft with the design platform of the new GROB SPn Utility Jet. The composite fuselage, Williams engines, existing titanium wing attachments as well as the culmination of previous engineering work all make adaptation of the aircraft for high altitude missions both feasible and practical. Furthermore, many design features used successfully in previous GROB high altitude aircraft, such as the STRATO 1 and 2C have been already been applied in the design of the GROB SPn Utility Jet.

Initial design specifications for a possible HALE aircraft would be a 18.65 m (61.20 ft) fuselage with a wing span of 35.6 m (116.8 ft), and payload capacity of 1,200 kg (2650 lbs). Preliminary performance estimates a range of 5540 NM (10250 km), reach a maximum altitude of 65.000 ft and a total travel time of 17 hours and 20 minutes. A manned configuration would consist of one or two pilots plus two additional mission specialists.

A further possible application is a longer range version, the G 600 HALE ER, featuring an extended range of 11,340 NM (21,000 km), half around the world. It could operate for a total non-stop flight time of 33 hours and for a time of 18.6 hours at an altitude of 60,000 ft. An optionally unmanned version of the HALE is also being considered.

Possible applications for the G 600 HALE could include high altitude missions such as telecommunications research, surveying, mapping, and military surveillance. The aircraft could also be for use as a high altitude test bed. Like its relative, the GROB SPn Utility Jet, its large fuselage could hold a significant payload consisting of monitoring and data transmission equipment. The unmanned version could be also used for high altitude refuelling, the ER-version for global surveillance missions in addition to all known UAV applications.

As is the case with its close relative the GROB SPn Utility Jet, the G 600 HALE also provides exponential possibilities. Concept design studies have already been carried out at GROB Aerospace headquarters in Mattsies.

SOURCE: GROB-WERKE