PlaneSense, the fractional aircraft ownership program managed by New Hampshire-based Alpha Flying, Inc., will enhance its current fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops in 2008 with the Grob Aerospace spn light twin jet. Alpha Flying has placed 25 firm orders and options for the new aircraft.
PlaneSense's business model for regional operations created by founder George Antoniadis in 1996 capitalizes on the PC-12's superb cabin size, extremely efficient economics and exceptional short-field performance, allowing flights into thousands of smaller airports not served by the major airlines or most private jets. PlaneSense currently focuses its services east of the Mississippi.
"As we looked at the future of PlaneSense," said Antoniadis, "we understood that some of existing and potential owners want to move up to a [faster] aircraft. “While our owners are completely satisfied with the cost savings of the PC-12, the need surfaced to add an aircraft that could shorten flight times to Florida, the Bahamas and the Midwest, while opening up Bermuda as a destination. Since PlaneSense share owners have grown accustomed to the time savings realized by operations into smaller general aviation airports, we needed an aircraft that would be the 'PC-12 of the jets.' The Grob spn fits that bill exactly, with its large, comfortable cabin, 3000-foot balanced field performance, ability to operate from unimproved strips, comparatively inexpensive operating costs, and business jet speed up to 41,000 feet."
Grob Aerospace with its multi-decade experience of manufacturing carbon fiber airframes is building its spn with cutting-edge German carbon fiber composite engineering and enhanced aerodynamics. The spn is powered by two Williams International FJ44-3A turbofan engines with a projected maximum cruise speed of 415 kts and NBAA-IFR range of 1,800 nm. The spn is also the first light business jet to fly with the enhanced Honeywell Primus Apex integrated avionics system in an ergonomic, Porsche-designed all-glass cockpit environment that reduces pilot workload.
The PlaneSense configuration offers six-passenger executive seating with an enclosed rear lavatory and a galley in the front. The spn is slated to begin service in the PlaneSense fractional ownership fleet soon after it receives FAA certification in mid-2008.

Grob Orders Top 70
Grob CEO Niall Olver said firm orders for the $7.8 million spn light business jet globally is now more than 70 units, exceeding its own sales forecasts, as interest in continues to grow following the company’s introduction of the new Porsche Design Studio spn interior. The raft of orders since the European business aircraft show is primarily from corporate customers across predominantly Europe and the USA, adding to earlier announced orders for the spn across four continents, including strategically key commitments from operators in the Middle East.
Grob’s mockup, on hand at NBAA, will shortly launch a nationwide tour from its newly-created U.S. base, also in Portsmouth. It is designed to replace the King Air 250 and certification is expected fourth quarter 2008. It plans to produce six aircraft in the second year, then ramp up to 22 and move to 44 after that, meaning two years of production is already sold out. Olver said he expected 50 percent of the aircraft would go to private owners while the rest would go to the charter market
In addition to announcing the appointment of Cary Brown to head the North American operation, Grob announced the appointment of Sunwest Aviation as the Western Canadian sales rep for the all-composite spn aircraft. Finally, he announced the selection of Aero Air of Hillsboro, Ore. to join its network of authorized service facilities (ASF). Aero Air has supported corporate aircraft operators with major airframe maintenance, avionics installations, and interior refurbishments since 1956. It offers 24/7 support through its full service Fixed Base Operation (FBO), and is the third service provider in North America to be endorsed by Grob Aerospace.
“As the company continues to add more sales resource and support infrastructure globally to the spn program” says Olver, “interest in the aircraft continues to build. Until now, Grob Aerospace’s marketing and sales focus had been deliberately Europe and North America. However, in the wake of a focus now on a broader global market, interest is quickly building in South America and key emerging markets in Far East, South East and Sub-Continent Asia. Because the market has responded so very well to the spn, we are actually exceeding our sales targets. With our current order book we are confident that we will meet, or even exceed our goal to deliver 400 aircraft over the next 10 years, still projecting that at least half of the sales will come from North America.”
With test aircraft No 3 now fully assembled with all systems installed, an intensive period of comprehensive ground testing of systems such as fuel, engines, hydraulics, landing gear and avionics is now underway. This will be followed at month’s end by taxi tests and, quickly thereafter, first flight. Test aircraft No 3 will also fly most of the systems that will be installed in the fully conforming series production aircraft.
With the airframe fatigue test in preparation a major milestone for the certification process of the spn is imminent. Fatigue testing will be undertaken in-house and is scheduled to start in Q4 2007. Testing will simulate 84,000 flight hours and 51,000 landings and pressurization cycles to a minimum of 28,000 hours’ and 17,000 landings.
Olver disclosed that production of the fourth test aircraft was already well under way and is scheduled to join the flight test program in Q4 2007. This will be followed by the first two series production aircraft, both of which will join the flight the test program for functional reliability testing.
As to what planned production spec equipment is specifically installed on the third test aircraft, Olver drew attention to the landing gear, for which drop tests to confirm strength and energy absorption are due for completion by the end of this month. Developed by industry leader Liebherr Aerospace, the main trailing link landing gear as well as the nose landing gear boasts a very robust design, allow the spn to land regularly on unpaved airfields. Sitting higher than most aircraft in this class, the extra clearance provided by the landing gear ensures the aircraft is less exposed to debris, stability enhanced by carbon fiber brakes powered by a hydraulic braking system with anti-skid.
Olver took time to also emphasize some of the aircraft’s other unique attributes for its size and category, such as its large speed-brakes and ground spoilers which, together with the large Fowler flaps, are designed to provide excellent landing characteristics, even on very short and/or unpaved runways traditionally reserved for turboprops. “The philosophy and technology we have employed on the spn will enable the aircraft to undertake steep approaches at operationally challenging airports such as Aspen, Colo. and London City in the UK, a significant selling point making the aircraft very appealing across all markets.