GERMAN manufacturer Burkhart Grob is pushing to sell its G115TA to the Thai air force and navy. The South-East Asian country needs 48 basic trainers.
Grob declines to confirm that it is bidding in Thailand, but says that the aircraft has attracted interest in Australia, South America and South Africa as well as several countries in the Middle East. A fixed-gear version of the aircraft is being considered as a possible candidate for the Royal Air Force's Bulldog replacement programme, now under review.
The type has already been bought by the United Arab Emirates air force, which has ordered 12 aircraft, with 12 options.
Grob says that the aircraft will probably be delivered in two blocks of six, with the last block due to be delivered in early 1997. The second prototype G115TA is now undergoing intensive flight testing as Grob bids to complete certification to US FAR part 23 standards by the end of October.
The first prototype was lost in an accident while being flown on low-level aerobatics at the end of July (Flight International, 7-14 August).
The G115TA is powered by a 195kW (260hp) Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 flat-six engine, driving a three-blade Hartzell constant speed propeller. It also differs from the rest of the G115 family in having a retractable undercarriage.
Source: Flight International
