View source for Grob Strato 2C

{{Short description|German experimental high altitude research aircraft}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = Strato 2C<!--please avoid stating manufacturer in this field; it's stated two lines below -->
| image = Grob Strato 2.jpg
| caption = Grob G 850 Strato 2C based in Mindelheim-Mattsies
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
| type = High Altitude Research Aircraft
| manufacturer = [[Grob Aircraft]]
| designer = <!--only appropriate for individuals, not for project leaders or a company or corporation-->
| first flight = 31 March 1995<!--if it hasn't happened, leave it out!-->
| introduced = <!--date the aircraft entered military or revenue service-->
| introduction = <!--date the aircraft will enter military or revenue service, if the aircraft is still in development -->
| retired = <!--date the aircraft left military or revenue service. If vague or multiples, it probably should be skipped-->
| status = Prototype only<!--in most cases, this field is redundant; use it sparingly-->
| primary user = <!--please list only one, and don't use those tiny flags as they limit horizontal space-->
| more users = <!--limited to three "more users" total. please separate with <br/>-->
| produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
| number built = 1
| unit cost = 
| developed from = <!-- the aircraft which formed the basis for the topic type -->
| variants with their own articles = <!-- variants OF the topic type -->
}}
|}
The '''Grob Strato 2C''' was a German experimental high altitude research aircraft. Powered by two turbocharged [[piston engine]]s and featuring an extremely long span wing of [[composite material|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.

==Development and design==
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 [[Atmosphere of Earth|atmospheric]], [[Stratosphere|stratospheric]] and [[Climate|climatic]] research.<ref name="Brasseys 96 p173.">Taylor, 1996, p.173.</ref>  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 [[Grob/E-Systems/AlliedSignal Egrett|Egrett]] surveillance aircraft, with the aircraft expected to be operational by 1996.<ref name="High & Dry p66">Jeziorski ''Flight International'' 31 January - 6 February 1996, p.66.</ref>

In order to meet the requirement to operate at an altitude of 24,000&nbsp;m (78,700&nbsp;ft) for 48 hours,<ref name="Galleitner p552">Galleithner 2004, p.552.</ref> Grob designed a twin-engined aircraft with a straight, very high [[Aspect ratio (wing)|aspect ratio]] wing of 56.5&nbsp;m (185&nbsp;ft 4½&nbsp;in) span.<ref name="Bents p4">Bents et al. 1998, p.4.</ref> The wings featured [[Wingtip device|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.<ref name="Brasseys 96 p173."/>

Unlike the Egrett, which was powered by a single [[turboprop engine]], the Strato was powered by two wing-mounted [[Pusher configuration|pusher]] compound engines consisting of a turbocharged piston engine with the Gas Generator from a [[Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100|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.<ref name="Bents p4"/> Each engine drove a 6&nbsp;m (19&nbsp;ft 8&nbsp;in) diameter five-bladed propeller.<ref name="Brasseys 96 p173."/>

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.<ref name="Brasseys 96 p173."/>

==Operational history==
The prototype first flew on 31 March 1995.<ref name="take flight">Jeziorski ''Flight International'' 12–18 April 1995, p.16.</ref> 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,<ref name="Brasseys 99 p152">Taylor, 1999, p.152.</ref> was late and did not deliver the expected performance.<ref name="High & Dry p67">Jeziorski, ''Flight International'' 31 January - 6 February 1996, p.67.</ref> Despite setting a world altitude record for a crewed piston-engined aircraft of 18,552&nbsp;m (60,897&nbsp;ft) on 4 August 1995,<ref name="Brasseys 99 p151">Taylor, 1999, p.151.</ref> on its 29th and what turned out to be final flight, the programme was cancelled by the DLR in 1996.<ref name="cancels">Jeziorski, ''Flight International'' 10–16 July 1996, p.4.</ref>

==Specifications (Strato 2C)==
[[File:Strato 2C.jpg|thumb]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000<ref name="Brasseys 99 p151-2">Taylor, 1999, pp.151-152.</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=4
|length m=23.98
|length note=
|span m=56.5
|span note=
|height m=7.76
|height note=
|wing area sqm=150
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=DLR LH34<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |accessdate=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight kg=6650
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=13350
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Teledyne Continental TSIOL-550]]
|eng1 type=
|eng1 kw=300
|eng1 note=

|eng2 number=1
|eng2 name=[[Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127]]
|eng2 type=gas generator
|eng2 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng2 note=

|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=0.56
|cruise speed kmh=500
|cruise speed note=at {{cvt|24000|m|0}} {{ref label|Note1|a|a}}
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=18100
|range note={{ref label|Note1|a|a}}
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|more performance=<!--
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||m|0}}
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt||m|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||m|0}}
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt||m|0}}-->
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|related=*[[Grob/E-Systems/AlliedSignal Egrett]]<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}

==References==
*{{note label|Note1|a|a}}Estimated performance.
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Bents David J.,  Mockler, Ted, Maldonado, Jaime,  Harp, James L.Jr.,  King, Joseph F. and   Schmitz. Paul C. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20100517003533/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19980137599_1998114724.pdf Propulsion System for Very High Altitude Subsonic Unmanned Aircraft]'' . NASA/TM—1998-206636. Cleveland, Ohio: NASA Lewis Research Centre, April 1998
*Galleithner, Hans. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=OoFcHOLpCskC&pg=RA1-PA553&dq=Grob+Strato+2C&sig=Iq3dgDwmXNfu-XyaeuflHU8lNtw 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. "[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1995/1995%20-%201051.html Strato 2C takes flight but funds stay low]". ''[[Flight International]]''. 12–18 April 1995.
*Jeziorski, Andrzej. "[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1996/1996%20-%200246.html High and Dry]". ''[[Flight International]]''. 31 January - 6 February 1996. pp.&nbsp;66–67.
*Jeziorski, Andrzej. "[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1996/1996%20-%201692.html DLR cancels Strato 2C contract]". ''[[Flight International]]''. 10–16 July 1996, p.&nbsp;4.
*Taylor, M.J.H. ''Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory: 1995/1997 Edition''. London: Brassey's, 1996. {{ISBN|1-85753-198-1}}.
*Taylor, M.J.H. ''Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory: 1999/2000 Edition''. London: Brassey's, 1999. {{ISBN|1-85753-245-7}}.

{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Grob Strato 2C}}
*[http://www.grob-aircraft.com Homepage of Grob Aircraft]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080820085428/http://flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTYPEN/FRStrato.htm flug-revue]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001115/http://www.spyflight.co.uk/g850.htm Spyflight]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080331162722/http://www.mt-propeller.com/en/entw/highalt.htm MT-Propeller]
*[http://www.dlr.de/ft/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1388/1918_read-3386/ DLR - Institut für Flugsystemtechnik - History – Road Map of Events: 1992-1994]

{{Grob aircraft}}

[[Category:1990s German experimental aircraft]]
[[Category:Grob aircraft]]
[[Category:Twin-engined pusher aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1995]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]