Grob's jet for Mid East ownership?

A Middle Eastern consortium is believed to be examining options to acquire the defunct Grob Aerospace all-composite SPn light jet programme

The rescue figure has been quoted as being as low as $273 million according to Niall Olver, Execujet's CEO and the former owner of Grob Aerospace.

Olver says he is in advanced discussions with two potential saviours of the programme, but remains open to approaches. He believes the fact that the industry may have hit rock bottom could encourage new financial entrants to business aviation.

"There are a lot of people interested in getting into the market," he says. "The feeling is that now is the time to get into the industry."

Olver and his current business backer have effectively retained all the design and brand rights to the SPn, plus two flying prototypes, two in-build aircraft and tooling. The aircraft are stored at Grob's factory at Tussenhausen-Mattsies, near Munich.

Olver says that, depending on any deal struck, the business will relocate to another airfield in Bavaria and establish production facilities, or continue to develop the aircraft but transfer manufacturing to a partner airframer.

According to Flight Evening News at EBACE,Before its collapse, Grob had secured around 100 orders for the $7.15 million aircraft. Grob says there are customers willing to buy 65 aircraft.