Powered sailplane with "Turbo" power system - Nearly full automatic engine control ILEC TB05 (06)
- Low additional weight
- Range approx. 110 nm - based on sawtooth (climb/glide) method
- Good climb rate - low noise
Schempp-Hirth aircraft with their unique "Turbo" system are the technologically brilliant realization of a concept which Wolf Hirth in his day acknowledged as an alternative to self-launching powered sailplanes and is long since being proven worldwide in hundreds of our models.
The most substantial advantages of this power system are its operational reliability, simple engine control and maintenance, an uncomplicated structure and last but not least its low weight. This means that compared with pure sailplanes (the utilisation spectrum of which is, of course, widely surpassed) performance penalties are practically non-existent.
The "Turbo" propulsion system is primarily intended to overcome dead air conditions and to avoid tedious retrieves - off-field landings may now be safely avoided. Secondly the "Turbo" also makes possible soaring safaris or, for instance, wave exploratory flights from places where launching facilities by auto, winch or aerotow exist.
The "Duo Discus XLT" is powered by a 22 kW SOLO two- cylinder, two-stroke engine which extends/retracts by means of an electrical spindle drive, assisted by a gas strut. Starter, choke or throttle are not required - the engine is started by the windmilling effect of the geared- and noise-optimized multi-blade folding propeller at a speed of about 51 knots and is preset to operate always at full power. The engine is stopped by switching "off" the ignition and reducing the speed, via the new automatic turbo control unit ILEC TB06 (which is the same system like the ILEC TB05 in the single seater). Once the windmilling prop has stopped, the power plant is retracted regardless of the position of the prop blades as they fold up automatically. Electrical power (12 V) is only required for spindle drive, booster pump and ILEC multi-function engine control unit. On request the latter is also available for the rear seat.
Of course the "Duo Discus XLT" may also be converted any time into a pure sailplane, as the engine with prop and spindle drive are quickly removable (thus saving a mass of approx. 77 lb)
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