GROB 109

(VIGILANT)

I have many great memories of flying this aircraft - including my very first solo flight. It is a motorised glider which I flew in the Air Cadets mainly out of RAF Abingdon but also went on a gliding scholarship at RAF Halton which is where I went solo.

General characteristics

Crew: Two (student and instructor)
Length: 8.10 m (26.57 ft)
Wingspan: 17.4 m (57.09 ft)
Height: 1.7m (5.58 ft)
Wing area: 19.0 m² (204.5 ft²)
Empty weight: 620 kg (1,364 lb)
Loaded weight: 850 kg (1,874 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 908 kg (2,001 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Grob 2500E1 4-cylinder air-cooled piston engine, 71 kW (95 hp)

Performance

Never exceed speed: up to 850 kg: 130 knots (below 6,500 ft)
Service ceiling: 8000ft (2,438 m)
Wing loading: 47.8 kg/m² (9.79 lb/ft²)