Grob G115 (Tutor)

Grob G115 (Tutor) - G-BYVS

The Grob G 115 is an advanced general aviation fixed-wing aircraft, primarily used for flight training. It is built in Germany by Grob Aerospace GmbH.The aircraft is constructed of advanced composite materials. The main fuselage and each wing is a single piece. It has a fixed Tricycle undercarriage with spatted wheels, a short nose bearing the 180 hp engine and a 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller. The cockpit features a broad canopy with good forward visibility, with side-by-side seating for pilot and student. The wings are tapered with square tips and the empennage consists of a large fin and rudder with an oblong tailplane with square tips mid-set to the fuselage. The aircraft is capable of basic aerobatic manoeuvre's (limited to +6G and -3G).

Until 2005 the Tutor was used by RAF University Air Squadrons to provide Elementary Flying Training (EFT) to university students, mainly sponsored by the RAF. From 2006 UAS students are no longer taught EFT, they follow an unassessed flying syllabus with similarities to EFT, but with reduced flying hours. RAF EFT is taught on the Grob Tutor at RAF Cranwell, Wyton and Church Fenton. These reserve squadrons teach the EFT syllabus to direct entrants and former UAS students. Afterwards the students are streamed according to ability: Fast Jet, Rotary Wing or Multi-Engine or non pilot roles

The Tutor is used by AEF's [Air Experience Flights] to provide flying experience to cadets of the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force. The Tutor replaced the Scottish Aviation Bulldog in these roles at the turn of the century. The Tutor fleet is owned and maintained by a civilian company, VT Aerospace, and carries British civilian G-BY** registrations under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme. The aircraft are painted overall white with blue flashes and RAF roundels