Aerobility highlights green credentials of newly enhanced Grob G109B Able in Farnborough Air Show debut

Monday 18th July 2022

• 
• 

Project Able, from Aerobility, is proud to be exhibiting at Farnborough Air Show this week, Zone E, Stand 017 (18 to 22 July) showing its newly enhanced Grob G109B Able on the flight line, just 14 months on from the formal launch of the programme. 

 

Aerobility, the UK’s leading aviation charity offering disabled people, without exception, the opportunity to fly led by Mike Miller-Smith MBE, CEO highlights that the G109B is one of, if not the most ‘sustainable aircraft of the show. Not only is the G109B Able the result of the ultimate  repurposing project, unleashing a new lease of life to the former military trainer Grob G109B motorgliders, but this new aircraft is also delivering a circa 40% reduction in fuel burn.

 

With a complete airframe overhaul, state-of-the-art Garmin avionics and options, new Rotax engine and MT Propeller, the ‘Able’s’ performance and handling has been radically enhanced, while the fuel consumption has been significantly reduced.   

 

Grob Able’s  fuel injected Rotax 912 iSc fuel efficient engine is certified to run on sustainable vehicle fuel such as E10, resulting in lower carbon emissions. Its glider design and MT hydraulic constant speed propeller also brings highly efficient operations, for example 100 knots is achieved burning just 11.7L per hour. 

 

UK Government backed initiative

 

Aerobility’s Project Able is a unique, award-winning and UK Government-backed programme, which centres on returning former RAF training aircraft to societal use, including disabled flying.   Just last month the charity accepted its first Grob Able at its HQ at Blackbushe Airport, following sales to individual customers David Pilkington and world-renowned display pilot Guy Westgate.  Aerobility plans to introduce up to 6 more to its fleet whilst at the same time marketing and selling the aircraft commercially, in a unique collaboration with Germany’s Grob Aircraft and Southern Sailplanes in the UK. The price for individual purchases start at £156,000 but for training organisations and Governments looking for bulk purchase then deals for up to 30 aircraft are available. It is the ideal aircraft to support young people’s introduction to flight and even deliver a flying platform for STEM education such as Zero G experiments.

 

Potential and broad customer base

 

“The diverse and global audience that attends Farnborough Show presents the best opportunity to date to show the aircraft to prospective customers - flying and training organisations, military and cadet operations, corporates sponsoring STEM activities and private individuals – the impressive and versatile Able has broad appeal, he said.

 

Thanks to organisers Farnborough International, we are also proud to support Friday’s next gen STEM activities and also present our Building the Dream Zenair CH750 STOL aircraft at the world’s second biggest airshow – a new member of our fleet built from scratch, one rivet at a time, by disabled aviators to train disabled aviators, we believe this to be another world first, commented Mike Miller-Smith.

 

 

For more information on the aircraft including specifications, please visit the Aerobility pavilion (adjacent to ‘The Square’ food outlets crowd centre) or contact  enquiries@g109able.org    

 

About Project Able  

 

Project Able is the unique, award-winning and UK Government-backed programme, centred on upgrading 60 former military training aircraft and repurposing them for societal use, including disabled flying.   

 

Project Able was formally launched in January last year.  Seeing an opportunity for a unique fleet type to teach more disabled people in the UK to fly, beyond the 1,000 students and veterans already engaged, Aerobility’s CEO Mike Miller-Smith proposed Aerobility could take

on these aircraft, modify them working alongside aerospace partners; take a number itself and adapt them for disabled flyers.  The remaining aircraft it would put up for sale via the commercial market, including potentially working with an aircraft lessor on financing.

 

Mike Miller-Smith duly garnered support from a wealth of supporters, led by OEM Grob Aircraft SE. The overhauled and adapted airframes will help around 2,600 disabled people take to the skies yearly with Aerobility, says Mike, compared with the current 1,000 who receive training.  

UK Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps, a private pilot himself, backed the initiative, highlighting the life changing opportunities and unrivalled confidence boost Aerobility offers disabled pilots.  

 

“Aerobility’s ambition is to inspire a new generation of Grob pilots and encourage pilot training schools, gliding clubs, military operators working with young people, aviation enthusiasts and others to seriously consider purchasing a Grob G109B ‘Able’ aircraft.” adds Mike.  

 

Project Able is supported by a stellar team of advisors and sponsors including Hayward Aviation, NATS, Grob Aircraft SE, Southern Sailplanes, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Garmin, CFS Aero, Brinkley Aerospace, Kanardia, Airborne Composites and Saywell International.  PR partner is The Emerald Network.  

www.g109able.org  

 

Project Able's Grob G109B Able in flight

 

About Aerobility   

    

Aerobility is a leading disabled flying charity based at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, UK.    Aerobility changes lives by providing anyone, with any disability with access to the magic and wonder of flight. It does this because taking the controls of an aircraft drives a focus on capability and encourages its flyers to ask the question ‘If I can fly an aeroplane, what else can I do?’ This makes everything else in life feel that little bit more achievable, whilst offering the ultimate feeling of freedom and escape from restrictions of disability.

 

Aerobility takes to the skies with up to 1,000 individuals a year and supports the recovery of our Armed Forces Veterans with 30% of flyers being wounded, injured or sick former military personnel.

 

Flying with Aerobility can deliver increased life ambition, leading to improved life opportunity, driving many of our beneficiaries toward more independent and personally fulfilling lives. Aerobility represents the needs of those living with disability into aviation and is recognised as the leading expert in disabled flying.  

 

www.aerobility.com