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.
In April 1992, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V - DLR) commenced a programme to develop an aircraft to carry out atmospheric, stratospheric and climatic research.[1] It chose Grob Aerospace to design and build an aircraft to meet these requirements, 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.[2]
In order to meet the requirement to operate at an altitude of 24,000 m (78,700 ft) for 48 hours,[3] Grob designed a twin-engined aircraft with a straight, very high aspect ratio wing of 56.5 m (185 ft 4½ in) span.[4] The wings featured winglets, and were mounted across the top of the fuselage which terminated in a T-tail configuration. The aircraft was designed to be crewed by two pilots, and could accommodate two scientists and associated mission equipment in a pressurised cabin. A galley, rest facilities and a toilet were provided.[1]
Unlike the Egrett, which was powered by a single turboprop engine, the Strato was powered by two wing-mounted 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.[4] Each engine drove a 6 m (19 ft 8 in) diameter five-bladed propeller.[1]
Construction of the airframe moulds started mid-November 1992, with airframe construction beginning in April the following year, starting with the tailplane. The airframe was completed in 1994 and engine installation commenced.[1]
Operational history
The prototype first flew on 31 March 1995.[5] 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,[6] was late and did not deliver the expected performance.[7] Despite setting a world altitude record for manned piston-engined aircraft of 18,552 m (60,897 ft) on 4 August 1995,[8] on its 29th and what turned out to be final flight, the programme was cancelled by the DLR in 1996.[9]
Specifications (Strato 2C)
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000[10]
^Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Bibliography
Bents David J., Mockler, Ted, Maldonado, Jaime, Harp, James L.Jr., King, Joseph F. and Schmitz. Paul C. . NASA/TM—1998-206636. Cleveland, Ohio: NASA Lewis Research Centre, April 1998
Galleithner, Hans. "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. ISBN3-540-40645-X.
Jeziorski, Andrzej. "Strato 2C takes flight but funds stay low". Flight International. 12–18 April 1995.
Jeziorski, Andrzej. "High and Dry". Flight International. 31 January - 6 February 1996. pp. 66–67.
Jeziorski, Andrzej. "DLR cancels Strato 2C contract". Flight International. 10–16 July 1996, p. 4.
Taylor, M.J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory: 1995/1997 Edition. London: Brassey's, 1996. ISBN1-85753-198-1.
Taylor, M.J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory: 1999/2000 Edition. London: Brassey's, 1999. ISBN1-85753-245-7.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grob Strato 2C.
Homepage of Grob Aircraft
DLR - Institut für Flugsystemtechnik - History – Road Map of Events: 1992-1994
January 06, 2023
grob, strato, german, experimental, high, altitude, research, aircraft, powered, turbocharged, piston, engines, featuring, extremely, long, span, wing, composite, construction, aircraft, built, 1990s, abandoned, despite, setting, world, altitude, record, pisto. 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 Strato 2CGrob G 850 Strato 2C based in Mindelheim MattsiesRole High Altitude Research AircraftManufacturer Grob AircraftFirst flight 31 March 1995Status Prototype onlyNumber built 1 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Specifications Strato 2C 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksDevelopment and design EditIn April 1992 the German Aerospace Center Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e V DLR commenced a programme to develop an aircraft to carry out atmospheric stratospheric and climatic research 1 It chose Grob Aerospace to design and build an aircraft to meet these requirements 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 2 In order to meet the requirement to operate at an altitude of 24 000 m 78 700 ft for 48 hours 3 Grob designed a twin engined aircraft with a straight very high aspect ratio wing of 56 5 m 185 ft 4 in span 4 The wings featured winglets and were mounted across the top of the fuselage which terminated in a T tail configuration The aircraft was designed to be crewed by two pilots and could accommodate two scientists and associated mission equipment in a pressurised cabin A galley rest facilities and a toilet were provided 1 Unlike the Egrett which was powered by a single turboprop engine the Strato was powered by two wing mounted 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 4 Each engine drove a 6 m 19 ft 8 in diameter five bladed propeller 1 Construction of the airframe moulds started mid November 1992 with airframe construction beginning in April the following year starting with the tailplane The airframe was completed in 1994 and engine installation commenced 1 Operational history EditThe prototype first flew on 31 March 1995 5 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 6 was late and did not deliver the expected performance 7 Despite setting a world altitude record for manned piston engined aircraft of 18 552 m 60 897 ft on 4 August 1995 8 on its 29th and what turned out to be final flight the programme was cancelled by the DLR in 1996 9 Specifications Strato 2C Edit Data from Brassey s World Aircraft amp Systems Directory 1999 2000 10 General characteristicsCrew 4 Length 23 98 m 78 ft 8 in Wingspan 56 5 m 185 ft 4 in Height 7 76 m 25 ft 6 in Wing area 150 m2 1 600 sq ft Airfoil DLR LH34 11 Empty weight 6 650 kg 14 661 lb Max takeoff weight 13 350 kg 29 432 lb Powerplant 2 Teledyne Continental TSIOL 550 300 kW 400 hp each Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney Canada PW127 gas generatorPerformance Maximum speed Mach 0 56 Cruise speed 500 km h 310 mph 270 kn at 24 000 m 78 740 ft a Range 18 100 km 11 200 mi 9 800 nmi a See also EditRelated development Grob E Systems AlliedSignal EgrettReferences Edita Estimated performance a b c d Taylor 1996 p 173 Jeziorski Flight International 31 January 6 February 1996 p 66 Galleithner 2004 p 552 a b Bents et al 1998 p 4 Jeziorski Flight International 12 18 April 1995 p 16 Taylor 1999 p 152 Jeziorski Flight International 31 January 6 February 1996 p 67 Taylor 1999 p 151 Jeziorski Flight International 10 16 July 1996 p 4 Taylor 1999 pp 151 152 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography Edit Bents David J Mockler Ted Maldonado Jaime Harp James L Jr King Joseph F and Schmitz Paul C Propulsion System for Very High Altitude Subsonic Unmanned Aircraft NASA TM 1998 206636 Cleveland Ohio NASA Lewis Research Centre April 1998 Galleithner Hans 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 3 540 40645 X Jeziorski Andrzej Strato 2C takes flight but funds stay low Flight International 12 18 April 1995 Jeziorski Andrzej High and Dry Flight International 31 January 6 February 1996 pp 66 67 Jeziorski Andrzej DLR cancels Strato 2C contract Flight International 10 16 July 1996 p 4 Taylor M J H Brassey s World Aircraft amp Systems Directory 1995 1997 Edition London Brassey s 1996 ISBN 1 85753 198 1 Taylor M J H Brassey s World Aircraft amp Systems Directory 1999 2000 Edition London Brassey s 1999 ISBN 1 85753 245 7 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grob Strato 2C Homepage of Grob Aircraft flug revue Spyflight MT Propeller DLR Institut fur Flugsystemtechnik History Road Map of Events 1992 1994 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grob Strato 2C amp oldid 1122523662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
