The G-5 was the first powered Gribovsky aircraft to fly; his first three designs were gliders and the first powered type, the Gribovsky G-4, though built, was not flown. Structurally all of his aircraft were wooden and several had smooth, rounded monocoque fuselages. That of the G-5 was oval in cross-section, with a single, open cockpit. Its low, cantilever wing had a high aspect ratio (9.0) for the time and the rear surfaces were also high aspect ratio. All flying surfaces were unbraced, keeping the G-5 aerodynamically clean, and the only external bracing was for the main landing gear.
The G-5 was powered by a small British V-twin, the 18abbr=onNaNabbr=on Blackburne Tomtit, an engine which had been installed in several of the aircraft that competed in the first Lympne light aircraft trials of 1923, mostly running inverted.