Burkhart Grob says that it is "very close to an agreement" with a potential investment partner, which will allow the German manufacturer to continue development of the GF200 tourer and "other programmes". A decision on bringing a partner into the operation is expected by July. The company also manufactures the G115 light-aircraft family and the record-breaking Strato 2C high-altitude aircraft, which has been grounded by funding problems.
Grob says that it expects to fly a second GF200 prototype late in the third quarter of this year. According to the company, the aircraft will be built to production standards, incorporating modifications requested by potential customers following demonstrations of the first prototype.
The spin tests required for certification have largely been completed on the first aircraft, and Grob says that the results so far have been satisfactory.
The manufacturer was badly hit in 1996 by the German Government's refusal to release DM47 million ($29.3 million) funding to complete development of the Strato 2C. The original contract with aerospace-research agency DLR was terminated in mid-1996, and Grob has had to cut its workforce from more than 230 people to fewer than 80 since late 1995.
If Grob's offer of the G115TA acrobatic trainer to the Royal Air Force succeeds, then the workforce will begin to grow again. If not, it will shrink to 47 by September.
The company is now building seven G115C2s, one of which will remain at the Mindelheim base as a demonstrator, while the rest are due for delivery to Australia.
Source: Flight International