Stemme S-10
The Stemme S10 is a German self-launching motor glider recognisable by its unusual mid-fuselage engine, which drives a folding propeller stowed in the nose cone once airborne. First flown in 1986, it pairs true sailplane performance, up to a 50:1 glide ratio, with the independence of an engine, letting pilots climb to thermal altitude and fly cross-country without a tow plane or winch. Its side-by-side two-seat cockpit and electrically retractable main wheels are unusual for a glider of its class. Two S10s served the United States Air Force Academy from 1995 to 2002 under the designation TG-11A.
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Did you know?
The S10 hides its engine mid-fuselage: the propeller folds into the nose cone once the motor glider is up in a thermal.
Specifications
| Length | 8.4 m (28 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Height | 1.8 m (6 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.8 t |
| Range | 670 NM (1,241 km) |
| Service ceiling | 30,000 ft (9,144 m) |
| Rate of climb | 680 ft/min (3.5 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 450 m (1,476 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 150 l |
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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