German turboprop manufacturer Grob has taken the wraps off its first-ever business aircraft - and says it expects to announce sales here at Le Bourget.
The seven-seater G 160 Grob Ranger is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42a which will allow a cruise speed of 270kt. Its range is 4,000km, or 3,300km when carrying six passengers. The cabin is 5m long, 1.42m high and 1.56m wide and compares favourably with other small business aircraft.
This is the first time the aircraft has been seen in public and it is generating significant interest, according to Hans Doll, vice-president marketing and sales. "We believe there's a market to sustain our business plan which is to produce 10-20 aircraft a year," he says. The price tag will be under $2 million, the company says.
The aircraft is designed to compete with the TBM-700, according to Doll.
Source: Flight Daily News
