Sir - In your flight test of the PZL Koliber (Flight International, 7-13 June, P111), you say that, "difficulties arose because no training aircraft had been certificated in years". The Grob G115C and D have not only had full US Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23 certification since 1993, but have also been granted full day/night instrument-flight-rules certification.
You claim that "...US flight schools have not had a new trainer available for years". Grob has regularly been shipping G115s (called the Bavarian in the USA) to US customers via US distributor George Rodgers, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. We are focusing on new customers.
Your table compares the PZL Koliber II, an old-technology metal aircraft, with leading composite trainers. As far as we are aware, no aluminium-built training aircraft can claim an unlimited airframe life. Our own G115 range does not have a 12,000h air frame life, as claimed in the table. This figure is merely the interval between major airframe inspections. If the aircraft passes such inspections satisfactorily, it is effectively zero-timed and this situation is repeatable throughout the operational life of the aircraft. Thus, a Grob G115 can have an operational lifespan of anything up to 60,000h, or even longer.
Finally, both the G115C and D are available with either 160hp (120kW) or 180hp Lycoming engines, fixed- or constant-speed propellers and yokes or control sticks. The airframes are identical, the difference being that the C is semi-aerobatic, while the D model (fitted with a jettisonable canopy and other features such as a fully inverted fuel/oil system) is fully aerobatic. Both models are spinnable.
KONRAD LEWALD
International Sales Manager
Burkhart Grob
Mindelheim, Germany
Source: Flight International
