Schempp-Hirth Arcus E
The Arcus E is the self-launching electric version of Schempp-Hirth's two-seat Arcus glider, which first flew on 7 April 2009 sharing its fuselage with the earlier Duo Discus while adding full-span flaperons for sharper handling and stronger climb. Rather than the two-stroke engine used in the standard Arcus M, the E drives its retractable propeller with an electric power unit derived from the Antares 20E, letting the pilot launch and sustain flight without a tow plane or winch and without the noise, vibration, or fuel logistics of a combustion engine. Schempp-Hirth had built and delivered around 400 Arcus airframes of all variants by the end of 2023.
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Did you know?
The electric Arcus E self-launches with a retractable propeller driven by a motor descended from the Antares 20E, no tow plane or winch needed.
Specifications
| Length | 8.7 m (29 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.9 t |
| Stall speed | 35 kt (65 km/h) |
| Optimum ceiling | 7,000 ft (2,134 m) |
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
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