PlaneFox tracks 1 Game Composites GB1 GameBird aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A Game Composites GB1 GameBird flies about 1,000 nm, roughly 1,852 km, which is about 5 h in still air at typical cruise.
A Game Composites GB1 GameBird costs about EUR 3,893 a month to run, or about EUR 402 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
The Game Composites GB1 GameBird is a certified two-seat aerobatic aircraft built by Game Composites, a company associated with designer Philipp Steinbach and based in Bentonville, Arkansas. The prototype first flew in 2015, with FAA certification following in 2016 and EASA certification in 2017. Production continues in limited numbers. The GB1 matters because it combines unlimited-class aerobatic capability with a comparatively practical cross-country specification, giving buyers an aircraft that can be used for serious competition training, advanced aerobatics and personal travel.
The GB1 is powered by a Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A, a six-cylinder, fuel-injected aerobatic engine rated at 303 hp, driving a constant-speed propeller. Published figures include a maximum cruise speed of about 200 knots, range close to 1,000 nautical miles with appropriate reserves and a service ceiling of 15,000 feet. Maximum takeoff weight is 2,200 lb, with useful load commonly quoted at around 900 lb depending on equipment. The aircraft is certified for high aerobatic loads, with limits that vary by loading condition, and has a carbon fiber airframe designed for both strength and low weight.
The GB1 uses tandem seating under a large bubble canopy, with dual controls, aerobatic harnesses and excellent visibility for both instructor and student. The cockpit is compact but more refined than many pure competition aircraft, with heating, ventilation and baggage capacity suitable for short touring use. Typical avionics are based around Garmin G3X Touch equipment rather than Garmin Perspective or G1000. Many aircraft include Garmin radios, transponder with ADS-B, engine monitoring and optional IFR-capable navigation equipment such as a GTN series navigator, depending on build specification and registration basis.
On the used market, the Game Composites GB1 GameBird occupies a specialized position: newer, composite and certified, with capabilities that appeal to aerobatic competitors, instructors and owners wanting one aircraft for both aerobatics and travel. Buyers should review total airframe time, aerobatic usage history, engine condition, propeller status, composite structure inspections, canopy condition and logbook detail. Smoke systems, upgraded Garmin avionics, paint condition and recent factory support can materially affect value. There are no broad production variants in the conventional sense, so individual equipment, maintenance pedigree and certification status are the main differentiators.