GROB HAS COMPLETED the airframe of its Strato 2C high-altitude research aircraft, with the aircraft now in final assembly. A first flight is now scheduled for this year. The German company has been seeking additional funding from the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology to complete the project. The twin-engined Strato 2C has a 56.5m wing span and can be flown at 82,500ft (25,000m).
Source: Flight International
US firm Sierra Nevada (SNC) has been awarded a $170 million contract to deliver two Rapcon-X surveillance aircraft to the Finnish Border Guard.
Turkish business jet charter company Air Sapphire has been heavily fined by the US government for flying a Gulfstream GIV to Russia without authorisation.
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered inspections of the Gulfstream G500 and G600 fleet in response to a “quality escape” involving improperly installed engine-mounting hardware.
