18 May 2016
The Stemme Twin Voyager S12 motor-glider has received its EASA type certificate, a year after being shown for the first time at AERO Friedrichshafen.
The S12 is a development of the existing S10, with a two metre longer wingspan and other airframe mods, and is equipped with an auto-pilot for touring. It also has a maximum take-off weight of 900kg, 50kg more than the S10.
The longer, 25-metre wingspan of the S12 improves the glide ratio to 53:1, meaning it can travel 53 metres for every metre lost in height.
Inside that huge spinner is a variable-pitch propeller that folds away when the engine is shut down in flight for gliding.
Like the S10, the S12 is equipped with a 115hp Rotax engine which drives a very special variable-pitch propeller – when the engine is shut down in flight, it can be folded away inside the spinner, reducing drag. No firm price has been released but it’s expected to be around 300,000 euro.
