The Stemme S10 is a self-launching sailplane produced by Stemme in Strausberg (Germany) since the 1980s. The engine is mounted amidships and it features an unusual folding propeller which is stowed inside the aircraft’s nose-cone when the engine is not in use.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
The Stemme S10 has several unusual features such as a tailwheel undercarriage and a side-by-side cockpit. It does not have a tow hook connection so it must self-launch. The two main wheels retract and lower electrically, though they can also be lowered manually if needed. There is an option to fold wings to reduce hangar span to 11.4 m (37 ft 5 in). The engine restart time is 5 seconds. A solar panel can provide additional electrical power during long flights. It has a steerable tailwheel, Schempp-Hirth spoilers and optional winglets. The final variant, the S10-VT, has a variable-pitch propeller which allows more power during take off, and a new turbocharged Bombardier Rotax 914F engine in place of the earlier Limbach L2400. Most parts were made in Poland, assembled in Germany.
OPERATIONAL HISTORY
Atmospheric measurements were made with S10 VT during the Mountain Wave Project (MWP) Expedition Argentina’99, 1,550 km (963 mi) record flight to Tierra del Fuego and during Expedition Mendoza 2006, when scientific measurements of atmospheric turbulence were made up to 12,500 m (41,010 ft) around and over the highest mountain of the Americas, Aconcagua.
An S10 was flown by Klaus Ohlmann as a pure glider for a record distance of 2,463 km (1,530 mi) , in a 14-hour flight.
Two examples were used by the United States Air Force Academy between 1995 and 2002 under the designation TG-11A.
In December 2017, the Colombian Air Force received two Stemme S10 VTs for training purposes.
Variants
S10 Standard production variant, Limbach motor
S10V Variable pitch prop variant, Limbach motor
S10-VT 115hp Turbocharged Rotax 914F motor
MWP-Research Airplane Stemme S10 VT across the volcano Lanin
SPECIFICATIONS (S 10-VT)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 8.42 m (27 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 23 m (75 ft 6 in) (excluding winglets)
- Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 18.7 m2 (201 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 28.2
- Empty weight: 645 kg (1,422 lb)
- Gross weight: 850 kg (1,874 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 914 F2/S1 turbocharged flat-four engine, 84.6 kW (113 hp) or Limbach L 2400 EB1.AD
- Propeller: 2-blade
Performance
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- Cruise speed: 259 km/h (161 mph, 140 kt)
- Stall speed: 78 km/h (48 mph, 42 kt)
- Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (168 mph, 146 kt)
- Range: 1,730 km (1,075 mi, 934 nm) (maximum fuel)
- Service ceiling: 9,140 m (29,990 ft)
- g limits: +5.3/-2.65
- Maximum glide ratio: 50
- Rate of climb: 4.14 m/s (817 ft/min)
- Rate of sink: 0.57 m/s (112 ft/min)
Data from Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 2003–2004
Text content from Wikipedia
Retractable propeller of the Stemme S10 When the engine, which is behind the cockpit, is shut down, the prop folds and the nose cone slides back, leaving a clean nose.
Rotax turbo charged engine connects with propeller through a carbon fibre drive shaft.
References
- ^Thurber, Matt (1 September 2014). “AirVenture Report: 2014”. ainonline.com. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^Scientific TV-feature (RBB GEO-documentation) „Rodeo in the Sky – Research for greater flight safety“
- ^Heise, Rene (2011), “The sailplane as research laboratory – turbulence measurements above the Andes” (PDF), European Meteorological Calendar 2011, European Meteorological Society, retrieved 20 April 2011
- ^Sanchez, Alejandro (20 December 2017). “Colombian Air Force receives new training aircraft”. IHS Jane’s 360. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^Thomas Horne. “Power Sailing”. AOPA Pilot: 58.
- ^Jackson, Paul (2004). Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 2003-2004. Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane’s Information Group. pp. 176–177. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.