Grob Strato 2C

infobox Aircraft
name = Strato 2C
type = High Altitude Research Aircraft
manufacturer = Grob Aerospace GmbH


caption =
designer =
first flight = 1995
introduced =
introduction=
retired =
status = Prototype only
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Grob Strato 2C was a German experimental high altitude research aircraft. Powered by two turbocharged piston engines and featuring an extremely long span wing of composite construction, one aircraft was built in the 1990s, but was abandoned despite setting a world altitude record for piston engined aircraft on its last flight.

Development and design

In April 1994, the German Aerospace Center ("Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V" - DLR) commenced a programme to develop an aircraft to carry out stratospheric research. It chose Grob Aerospace to design and build an aircraft to meet this requirement, based both on its experience in use of Composite material in aircraft structures together with its successful development of the Egrett surveillance aircraft, with the aircraft expected to be operational by 1996. Jeziorski, Flight 31 January - 6 February 1996, p.66.]

In order to meet the requirement to operate at an altitude of 24,000 m (78,700 ft) for 48 hours, Galleithner 2004, p.552.] Grob designed a twin engined aircraft with a very high aspect ratio wing, of 56.5 m (185 ft 4½ in) wing span. Unlike the Egrett, which was powered by a single turboprop engine, the Strato was powered by two pusher compound engines consisting of a turbocharged piston engine with the Gas Generator from a PW127 turboprop engine to provide a constant supply of pressurised air to the piston engine at high altitude. This had the advantage of maintaining power at high altitudes. Bents et al 1998, p.4.]

Operational history

The prototype first flew on 31 March 1995. Jeziorski, Flight 12 - 18 April 1995, p.16.] Costs overran, however, and the prototype, which was intended as a Proof of Concept aircraft with off the shelf equipment and a heavier wing structure than planned for the production aircraft, Taylor, 1999, p.152.] was late and did not deliver the expected performance. Jeziorski, Flight 31 January - 6 February 1996, p.67.] Despite setting a world altitude record for manned piston-engined aircraft of 18,552 m (60,897 ft) on 4 August 1995, Taylor, 1999, p.151.] on its 29th and what turned out to be final flight, the programme was cancelled by the DLR in 1996. Jeziorski, Flight 10 - 16 July 1996, p.4.]

pecifications (Strato 2C)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000 Taylor, 1999, p.151-152.]
crew=4
capacity=
length main= 23.98 m
length alt= 78 ft 8 in
span main= 56.5 m
span alt= 185 ft 4½ in
height main= 7.76 m
height alt= 25 ft 5½ in
area main= 150 m²
area alt= 1,614 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 6,650 kg
empty weight alt= 14,660 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 13,350 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 29,432 lb
more general=
engine (prop)=Teledyne Continental TSIO-550
type of prop= turbocharged piston engine with Pratt and Whitney PW127 gas generator
number of props=2
power main= 300 kW
power alt= 402 hp
power original=
max speed main= Mach 0.56
max speed alt=
cruise speed main= 500 km/h
cruise speed alt= 270 knots, 311 mph
cruise speed more = at 24,000 m.ref label|Note1|a|a
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main= km/h
never exceed speed alt= knots, mph
range main= 18,100 kmref label|Note1|a|a
range alt= 9.773 nm, 11,246 mi
ceiling main= 24,000 mref label|Note1|a|a
ceiling alt= 78,740 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=*Grob/E-Systems/AlliedSignal Egrett
similar aircraft=
sequence=
lists=
see also=

References

Notes

*note label|Note1|a|aEstimated performance.

Bibliography

* Bents David J., Mockler, Ted, Maldonado, Jaime, Harp, James L.Jr., King, Joseph F. and Schmitz. Paul C. " [http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov/reports/1998/TM-1998-206636.pdf Propulsion System for Very High Altitude Subsonic Unmanned Aircraft] " . NASA/TM—1998-206636. Cleveland, Ohio: NASA Lewis Research Centre, April 1998
*Galleithner, Hans. " [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OoFcHOLpCskC&pg=RA1-PA553&dq=Grob+Strato+2C&sig=Iq3dgDwmXNfu-XyaeuflHU8lNtw High Altitude Research Aircraft as Further Examples of the Application of the Fibre Composite Technology] ". "Aeronautical Research in Germany: From Lilienthal Until Today ". Ernst-Heinrich Hirschel, Horst Prem, Gero Madelung. New York: Springer-Verlag, 2004. ISBN 354040645X.
*Jeziorski, Andrzej. " [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1995/1995%20-%201051.html Strato 2C takes flight but funds stay low] ". "Flight International". 12 - 18 April 1995.
*Jeziorski, Andrzej. " [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1996/1996%20-%200246.html High and Dry] ". "Flight International". 31 January - 6 February 1996. pp. 66-67.
*Jeziorski, Andrzej. " [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1996/1996%20-%201692.html DLR cancels Strato 2C contract] ". "Flight International". 10 - 16 July 1996, p.4.
*Taylor, M.J.H. "Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory: 1999/2000 Edition". London: Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1 85753 245 7.

External links

* [http://www.grob-aerospace.net/index.php?id=175 Grob Aerospace G 850: Strato 2C]
* [http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/frtypen/FRStrato.htm flug-revue]
* [http://www.spyflight.co.uk/g850.htm Spyflight]
* [http://www.mt-propeller.com/en/entw/highalt.htm MT-Propeller]
* [http://www.dlr.de/ft/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1388/1918_read-3386/ DLR - Institut für Flugsystemtechnik - History – Road Map of Events: 1992-1994]