Grob G 120A (CT-102A Astra)

Developed by German manufacturer Grob Aircraft as a high-performance successor to the composite Grob G 115, the Grob G 120A is a two-seat primary training and aerobatic platform. Constructed entirely of lightweight carbon-fiber composite materials, the airframe is stressed for +6g to -4g aerobatic maneuvers and powered by a potent 260 hp Lycoming AEIO-540-D4 six-cylinder engine. Outfitted with inverted fuel and oil systems, the G 120A was designed from the ground up to give military and airline flight academies an economical platform capable of teaching ab initio flight screening, instrument navigation, and basic tactical aerobatics. In Canadian Armed Forces service, the aircraft was designated the CT-102A Astra, serving as the frontline primary flight screening trainer at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3 CFFTS).

In X-Plane 12, community developer dvt (Denis) delivers a straightforward, native freeware recreation of the G 120A. The package captures the aircraft's distinctive tapered low-wing profile, wide bubble canopy, and side-by-side cockpit arrangement. The developer includes an interactive instructor toggle: pilots wishing to fly solo can simply press the Y key (mapped to the simulator yoke toggle) to dismiss the right-seat instructor avatar for an unobstructed cockpit view. The updated v1.1 release refines the engine thrust curve for the 260 hp Lycoming engine, corrects animated flight stick geometry, and includes the authentic Royal Canadian Air Force CT-102A Astra livery alongside civilian schemes.

In the air, the Grob G 120A behaves as a spirited, forgiving aerobatic trainer. With a generous power-to-weight ratio provided by the 540-cubic-inch powerplant, the aircraft exhibits energetic vertical climb performance, rapid roll rates, and crisp rudder response. The wide canopy offers expansive exterior sightlines, making it an enjoyable platform for flying visual traffic patterns, basic loop and roll aerobatics, and spatial orientation practice.

Classified squarely within our Casual fidelity bracket, this freeware add-on is tailored for accessible hop-in-and-fly fun and community learning. Systems logic relies on standard Plane Maker architecture without custom plugin overhead, ensuring butter-smooth performance across all computer hardware. It represents an encouraging community project that provides virtual aviators with a cheerful, capable composite aerobatic trainer at zero cost.

Primary Missions & Operational Roles

• Military Primary Flight Screening: Practice basic military training syllabus maneuvers, traffic patterns, and precision stick-and-rudder coordination.

• Basic Aerobatic Training: Perform positive and negative-g aerobatic maneuvers including inside loops, aileron rolls, split-S turns, and hammerheads within its +6/-4g envelope.

• VFR Cross-Country Cruising: Tour regional scenery at comfortable cruise speeds between 135 and 150 KTAS with broad bubble-canopy visibility.

• Solo & Dual Instructional Practice: Toggle between solo operations and dual-instruction training flights using the built-in avatar toggle command.