19 July 2016
+VIDEO The GB1 aerobatic aircraft designed and developed by British company Game Composites has completed its EASA flight test campaign, including a validation flight test, and will give its first public display at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh next week.
The company is building a production facility for the aircraft at Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters of Walmart. Steuart Walton, of the family behind Walmart, has financed the project so far, working with German designer and aerobatic pilot Philipp Steinbach. FAA production approval is being pursued and it is hoped the facility will open in August this year.
The GB1 was developed with the help of The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in the Boeing Structural Test Centre. AMRC is a world-class centre for advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors.
SPEC
Game Composites GB1
Load factor 10 G
Vne speed 235kt
Manouevring speed 175kt
Cruise speed (75% power @ 5,000ft) 200kt
Stall speed, mtow 56kt
Range at cruise speed 1,000nm (with 30 min reserve)
Empty weight 585kg
Max Takeoff Weight aerobatics 880kg
Max Takeoff Weight cruising 999kg
Full Fuel Useful Load 190kg
Max fuel 325 litres
Airframe Carbon fibre composite, with steel landing gear legs
Powerplant Lycoming AEIO580B1A, 315hp, 6 cyl
Prop MTV14-190-130-1 four-blade
Wingspan 7.7m
Length 6.9m
