Grob D-500 Egrett 2
The Grob Egrett was a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft developed in Germany during the late Cold War. Its long wing and efficient turboprop allowed it to loiter above 50,000 feet, carrying cameras or radar over large areas. The end of the Cold War removed much of the intended market, leaving only a small number of aircraft. NASA later used an Egrett for atmospheric research, showing the value of its high-altitude endurance outside military reconnaissance.
Did you know?
The Egrett began as a joint West German-US Air Force requirement in the 1980s for a U-2-style aircraft the US never adopted.
Specifications
| Length | 13 m (43 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 33 m (108 ft) |
| Height | 4.4 m (14 ft) |
| Persons on board | 1 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 4.7 t |
| Range | 2,000 NM (3,704 km) |
| Maximum speed | 250 kt (463 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 51,000 ft (15,545 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,476 ft/min (7.5 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 600 m (1,969 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 800 l |
| Engines | 1x Garrett TPE331-14 |
| Units built | 6 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Grob D-500 Egrett 2 starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Grob, the D-500 Egrett 2 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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