Grob/E-Systems/AlliedSignal Egrett
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| Egrett/Strato 1 | |
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| Type | Reconnaissance aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Grob/E-Systems/AlliedSignal |
| Maiden flight | 24 June 1987 |
| Number built | 6 |
The Grob/E-Systems/AlliedSignal Egrett was a surveillance aircraft developed in Germany in the 1980s by an international partnership. It was intended to fill a joint Luftwaffe-USAF requirement for a high-altitude, long-duration surveillance platform for treaty verification and environmental monitoring. Known as "LAPAS" - Luftgestütztes, abstandsfähiges Primär-Aufklärungssystem in Germany and "Senior Guardian" in the US, the programme initially attempted to acquire the Lockheed TR-1 for this role, but when this did not succeed, a new aircraft was sought.
The Egrett (its name derived from the three companies involved in its design: E-Systems, Grobb, and Garrett, the latter firm later changing its name to AlliedSignal) was a conventional mid-wing monoplane with extremely high aspect ratio wings. Power was provided by a single turboprop, and it was equipped with tricycle undercarriage, the main units of which retracted into fairings on the wings.
The initial D-450 Egrett I development aircraft flew in 1987, and in September the following year set a class altitude record of 16,394 m (53,787 ft). Two pre-production machines followed in 1989 and 1990 as the D-500 Egrett II and then fitted out to the finalised D-520 design in 1991. These latter two aircraft were owned by E-Systems and Grob respectively, and used for promotional purposes, E-Systems' for various sensor packages, and Grob's (renamed the Strato 1) to market the design to civil authorities as a resource management platform.
In 1992, the Luftwaffe placed an order for 16 Egrett IIs, including a G 520T two-seat trainer, to be delivered by 2001. However, before much production had taken place, the whole programme was cancelled when Eastern Europe ceased to be perceived as a threat. The two seater was eventually completed, however, and sold to Airborne Research Australia in Adelaide.
[edit] Specifications (D-520 Egrett)
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Length: 12.20 m (40 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 31.40 m (103 ft 0 in)
- Height: 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 39.7 m² (421 ft²)
- Empty weight: 3,063 kg (6,754 lb)
- Gross weight: 4,700 kg (10,362 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × AlliedSignal TPE331-14F, 600 kW (800 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 445 km/h (276 mph)
- Endurance: 12 hours
- Service ceiling: 13,715 m (45,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 7.6 m/s (1,500 ft/min)
[edit] References
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 924.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 895 Sheet 14.
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