The history of the GROB company goes back to
1926 when Dr. Ernst Grob began production of
internal combustion engines. The company is
now one of the largest manufacturers of
machine tools in Germany.
In 1971 the Aerospace Division was founded
by Dr. Burkhart Grob, an enthusiastic pilot
and entrepreneur. Since 1974 the company has
its own purpose-built airfield that
accommodates research, development,
manufacturing and assembly facilities.
Initially the company was engaged in the
licensed production of 200 CIRRUS gliders.
This was soon followed by the development
and production of our own ASTIR glider;
initially as a single seater and then the
dual seat TWIN ASTIR, TWIN III ACRO and
finally the innovative TWIN III SL
self-launching glider which set new
standards in its class.
In March 1981 GROB received German type
certification for the G 109, the World's
first genuine series production composite
motor glider. One year later it was
certified by the FAA as the first
all-composite motor glider in the United
States.
The pioneering spirit of the company was
again demonstrated when the G 115 received
German type approval, and subsequently FAA
certification as the first fully composite
aircraft in the US. With the G 115 GROB
successfully entered the training aircraft
market, thus spawning a family of aircraft
powered by 4 and 6 cylinder engines. The
latest development is the G 120 high
performance trainer and aerobatic aircraft.
GROB will again set standards with a new
class of aircraft - the G 140. This fully
aerobatic aircraft can be powered by either
a turboprop or piston engine and fills the
dual roles of a high performance trainer and
a fast 4 seater business aircraft.
With the development, production and testing
of the STRATO 1 high altitude aircraft in
the late 1980s, GROB demonstrated both the
remarkable capabilities of the company and
the advantages of composite technology. This
aircraft established five FAI world records
for altitude, time to climb and flight
endurance. It was the first composite
aircraft for stratospheric research and
reached altitudes of almost 54,000 feet
(16,460 meters). The STRATO 2C - with its
all-carbon fibre composite airframe - has
pushed the limits even further. The
dimensions and performance of this aircraft
remain unequalled to this day.
With a total of more than 3,500 aircraft
produced and delivered globally, GROB
Aerospace is now the world´s largest and
most experienced manufacturer of composite
aircraft.
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