Game Aerospace has announced the successful first flight of the GB2, which the company describes as the first purpose-built firefighting aircraft developed in the United States.
Conducted from Louise Thaden Field in Bentonville, Arkansas, the flight marks a milestone in the aircraft’s development. The GB2 performed as expected and completed all planned initial evaluations.
The prototype weighs 6,050 pounds empty and has a maximum gross weight of 19,000 pounds. It carries 1,200 gallons of mission payload and 400 gallons of fuel, while its two-seat cockpit supports training and operational flexibility.
Philipp Steinbach, CEO, co-founder and test pilot at Game Aerospace, said, “The GB2’s successful first flight is the result of years of engineering, craftsmanship, and dedication from our entire team, as well as great collaboration with the FAA.”
Steinbach added, “Our goal is to provide the world’s most cost-effective aerial firefighting solution—an aircraft designed from the outset around the mission.”
Flight testing will now progress as Game Aerospace advances the GB2 toward FAA Part 23 standard-category certification and production.
From the African Pilot GA Desk
The GB2 is being developed as a purpose-designed single-engine air tanker for aerial firefighting operations. Game Aerospace says the aircraft was developed around the requirements of wildfire initial attack, with input from operators, pilots, ground crews and government agencies.
The composite aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F turboprop engine driving an MT-Propeller. Game Aerospace lists a 1,200-US-gallon firefighting hopper and 400-US-gallon fuel capacity, with a maximum take-off weight of 19,000 pounds. Published performance figures include a maximum cruising speed of 210 KIAS and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet.
The tandem two-seat cockpit has dual flight and engine controls and uses a hands-on-throttle-and-stick configuration for mission-critical phases of flight. The avionics installation includes Garmin primary and multifunction displays, engine indication and crew alerting systems, IFR GPS and a GFC 600 autopilot. A dedicated fire-gate controller is designed to manage retardant or water delivery during firefighting operations.
