Get Home Electrically.
With the proven electrical FES (Front Electric Sustainer) system built by LZ Design, Schempp-Hirth now also offers an innovative, environment-friendly sustainer system that is very different from all former systems.
The reliable and lighting-fast starting and stopping of the engine with any noticeable additional drag allows to spontaneously use the electrical engine, which opens completely new perspectives. The powered flight is perceived in a very new way and can be enjoyed by puristic glider pilots.
Simple and easy - and thus safe.
Operation is extremely simple: Just toggle a switch and adjust the engine power with a rotary switch. This is all it take to gain height at almost no vibration and minimal engine noise. Operating mistakes are practically impossible and the pilot's attention remains available for other flight decisions.
In typical use, the pilot will switch to horizontal cruise mode for maximum endurance after a short climb that can be increased to a climb rate of 2 m/s when needed.
Switching off the engine, the propeller will automatically stop in the defined end position and the blades will fold onto the fuselage. The powered aeroplane has become a glider within seconds.
Clever Design.
The foldable propeller is located at the tip of the fuselage. The blades fold tightly onto the fuselage when not in use. Two 16 kg batteries are safely stowed in a compartment behind the wings in the fuselage, can be reached from above and easily taken out for charging.
Deliberately abandoning extraction and retraction of the engine saves complex components - and valuable time when engine help is needed.
The FES system allows climb rates of more than 2 m/s. Using it for horizontal cruise, the batteries support up to 45 minutes of engine time (at around 100 km/h), enough to escape weak thermal conditions or to fly home safely.