Stemme’s latest motorglider design, the Twin Voyager S12, was first introduced last year at Aero in Germany, but this week the company’s top-of-the-line aircraft makes its U.S. debut at EAA AirVenture. The side-by-side two-seat cockpit offers the pilot lots of options — in power mode, a turbo-charged Rotax 914 F2/S1 engine drives a propeller. When switching to glide mode, the prop folds into its dome and disappears within five seconds. A wide canopy provides both pilot and passenger with panoramic views. The S12 has a glide ratio of 1:53, the company says, and can cruise at speeds up to 140 knots for up to 950 nm.
Designed for touring, the S12 has a baggage compartment and an autopilot. The wingspan is 82 feet, but can fold down to 37 feet for storage. The S12 is EASA-certified and FAA certification is in the works. Aviation Consumer editor Larry Anglisano filed an AVweb video report on Stemme’s S10 model last month. Stemme has both the S12 and an S10 on display all this week at Oshkosh, at Booth Nos. 208 and 209. The S12 sells for about $370,000.
