Aerobatic GameBird Achieves Certification

This morning, officials from the European Aviation Safety Agency handed over the Type Certificate for the GameBird GB1 to Bentonville, Arkansas-based Game Composites. Designed by German aerobatic champion Philipp Steinbach, the GameBird is the first aerobatic airplane certified since 2011. The FAA certification effort for the GB1 has been conducted concurrently and Steinbach expects the Part 23 paperwork to be in hand in the next few weeks.

The two-seat carbon fiber airplane is designed specifically for aerobatics with a maximum load factor of +/-10 G. It is powered by a Lycoming AEIO-580 engine capable of producing 303 hp and the design allows for full aileron deflection at the never exceed speed of 235 knots. Maneuvering speed for the GameBird is 175 knots.

Unlike many aerobatic airplanes, the GB1 is also a capable crosscountry machine. With a 25-gallon acrotank and two 28-gallon wingtanks, the total fuel capacity of the GameBird is 83 gallons, bringing the maximum range to 1,000 nm. This allows aerobatic pilots to ferry their airplanes without multiple stops. Base price for the GB1, with a basic instrument panel, is $400,000.

For a full report on the GameBird, see the article in the October 2016 issue of Flying.