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Grob selected to develop Learjet 85’s all-composite structure

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Learjet 85’s all-composite structure

Bombardier Aerospace has selected Grob Aerospace to develop the all-composite structure of its new Learjet 85 aircraft.


February 26, 2008  By Wings Magazine

grobBombardier Aerospace has selected Grob Aerospace to develop the all-composite structure of its new Learjet 85 aircraft. Grob will also build the first three prototype aircraft for the program.

Launched on October 30, 2007 – with a provisional name – the new Learjet 85 aircraft will be the first Bombardier Aerospace jet to feature an all-composite structure and will be the first all-composite structure business jet designed for type certification under FAR Part 25.

An extraordinary advancement in next-generation flight, the Learjet 85 aircraft's all-composite structure will allow Learjet designers to maximize cabin comfort while minimizing drag and improving performance. Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, reduced maintenance and extended service life are key characteristics of all composite airframes and the ultra-smooth surfaces of the carbon fibre structures permit superior aerodynamics. Other competitive advantages of composites include reduced structural part count and significantly less vulnerability to corrosion or fatigue damage than metal.

The Learjet 85 aircraft's prototype structures will be manufactured at Grob Aerospace's facility in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany, where Learjet design teams are currently on site as part of the joint conceptual design phase.

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