Fri, Apr 21, 2023
While at EAA AirVenture 2016, our ANN news crew visited with the Director of Flight Operations and Maintenance for Stemme USA. Wes Chumley gave us an inside view of their new motorglider, known as the Stemme S12. The aircraft’s appearance at AirVenture is the first time it has been shown in the USA.
Motorgliders come in various sizes and shapes, but the Stemme is quite different from most of them. It’s unique in that the engine is mounted in the front of the aircraft and the propeller is retractable into a smooth fairing that provides a completely glider-like aerodynamic airframe.
Chumley explains that the S12 is an upgraded variation of their popular S10 series of powered gliders. He details the changes in the video, but the one that really stands out is the increase of wingspan to about 85 feet. He says the changes resulted in the new S12 designation for the airplane that has already received EASA certification, and is currently undergoing the certification process with the FAA.
There’s a good chance you’ve never seen anything like this before, and this video is the perfect place to be introduced to this unique technology.
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