Development and Innovation
The Speed Astir IIB emerged from Grob Aircraft's ambitious effort to revolutionize the 15-meter competition sailplane class. Building upon their successful G 102 Astir, Grob engineers completely redesigned the aircraft with a narrower-chord wing, reduced-height fin and rudder, and an innovative elastic flap system that stretched flexible wing skin over the flap hinge to eliminate performance-robbing air gaps. The original Speed Astir first flew in early 1978, followed by the refined Speed Astir II by late 1978, with the IIB variant appearing in 1979 featuring a lengthened fuselage to accommodate taller pilots and carbon fiber wing spars.
Technical Excellence
The G 104 Speed Astir IIB represented cutting-edge sailplane technology for its era. With a wingspan of exactly 15 meters and wing area of 11.5 square meters, the aircraft achieved an impressive aspect ratio of 19.6. The glider's empty weight of 265 kilograms could increase to a gross weight of 515 kilograms when fully loaded with its 150-kilogram water ballast capacity. This ballast system allowed pilots to optimize performance for varying weather conditions during competition flights.
Performance figures demonstrated the aircraft's competitive capabilities, with a maximum glide ratio of 41.5 and a minimum sink rate of just 0.60 meters per second. The sailplane could reach speeds up to 270 kilometers per hour while maintaining its exceptional efficiency. The cockpit accommodated a single pilot in the lengthened fuselage that measured 6.69 meters in total length.
Manufacturing and Production
Grob Aircraft, founded by Burkhart Grob, launched production of the Speed Astir IIB in 1979 at their German facilities. The company had begun aircraft manufacturing in the 1970s, with the Speed Astir series representing their entry into high-performance competition sailplanes. Production records indicate at least 12 documented examples of the Speed Astir family, with serial numbers beginning at 4001. Notable early aircraft included D-7644 (serial 4001), OK-7662 (serial 4002), and PH-1128, all completed in 1979.
Production of the Speed Astir series proved brief, ending shortly after 1979 as Grob focused on other designs. The company continues operations today as Grob Aircraft AG, specializing in composite gliders and motor gliders, though the Speed Astir represented one of their most technically advanced early achievements.
Global Distribution and Competition
The G 104 Speed Astir IIB found operators across multiple continents, with aircraft registered in Germany, Japan, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand, Austria, United States, Switzerland, South Africa, and Spain. Registration examples included D-7644 in Germany, JA2249 in Japan, and multiple US registrations N161SS, N164SS, and N176SS. This international distribution reflected the aircraft's competitive capabilities in the demanding 15-meter sailplane class.
The Speed Astir IIB competed directly against other prominent designs including the Glaser-Dirks DG-200, Glasflügel Mosquito, Rolladen-Schneider LS3, and Schempp-Hirth Mini-Nimbus. Private pilots and soaring clubs worldwide operated these sailplanes in both competition and recreational flying.
Service Record and Legacy
Aviation safety databases document the operational history of the type through 15 recorded accidents between 1982 and 2023, with six fatalities. Notable incidents included the crash of N161SS on April 15, 1982, in Tulare, California, and D-2909 on August 12, 1982, near Samedan, Switzerland. Despite these incidents, multiple examples remain active in registries worldwide, with at least 18 aircraft listed across Europe, North America, and other regions as of recent records.
Active aircraft include OO-ZVQ in Belgium, PH-1383 in the Netherlands (a 1979 build), and OK-2905 in the Czech Republic, which survived a 2019 incident with only substantial damage. The continued operation of these sailplanes more than four decades after production demonstrates their robust construction and enduring performance capabilities.
The Speed Astir IIB's significance extends beyond its brief production run, as it pioneered the use of carbon fiber wing spars and elastic flap technology in 15-meter class competition sailplanes during the late 1970s German soaring boom. These innovations influenced subsequent sailplane designs and established Grob's reputation for technical advancement in composite aircraft construction.