Duo Discus FES

A retriever, yes, but much more.

Easy to fly, comfortable, handy, agile - with outstanding performance: The Duo Discus FES is the perfect device for enjoying flights together, whether in syndicates, in the family or in daily gliding club operation. The Front Electric Sustainer system has proven that the retrieve mode is only one small part of the flying adventures it can offer, with many pilots using it today not to come back home, but to go further!

By its unique implantation in the nose of the glider and its very fast operation, using the engine, starting it, shutting it off, will fully become part of your gliding experience, with little to no extra management of the engine needed. This makes you more aware of the environment for safety but also for finding the next lift or line of energy.

Calmer and more discrete

Any pilot who flew with 2 strokes engine knows about the cabin noise. Even if these engines are very good, durable and reliable, the cockpit becomes terribly noisy and more and more regulations from the ground make it difficult to operate with no restriction.

Duo Discus FES offers a much refined experience for both pilots and environment. The engine will still shake a bit due to the propeller thrust and noise will be much more noticeable than in any electric car, but still no use of headset is very acceptable and you will still be able to hear and use the radio with any ATC or other pilots. As standard, we offer small jacks plugs for modern earbuds if you need to use FES engine for longer parts of the flight, for both hears protection and best radio communication.

Instant on/off.

Due to its unique feature, a nose installation with flappy propeller, and the simplicity of use of electro engine, you get instant power when needed just by operating the main engine "Power" switch and then set the throttle. Power off is also instataneous, just by setting the throttle "below 0" and let the FES system stop and aligned the propeller automatically. This unique feature makes you relaxed in the air, and more focus on the environment than on engine management. The FES is still a glider, you just manage its polar performance with the engine throttle!

Backseat drivers supported.

The standard second engine control unit "FCU" supports full operation of the engine from the back seat as well as from the front seat. No Pneumatic switch to toggle is needed as propeller does not blow the TE antenna and Pitot is situated in the nose. The back seat can be declared as the seat of the responsible pilot, allowing you to fly guests seated in the front seat, or, when schooling, to help students with ease.

More freedom.

Based on the Duo Discus XL generation, you will enjoy the roomy cockpit and the excellent touch in the air of the Duo Discus FES.

The proven aerodynamic design of Duo Discus provides you with the best feeling in the air and generous manoeuvrability to enjoy flying all conditions and all environments with ease.

The addition of the FES system now opens a completely new World for pilots and clubs.

Flying cross-country, even in suboptimal conditions, will become more relaxed, and escaping the bad areas a breeze. Duo Discus FES is much more than just a Turbo retriever and you will find many ways to use it.

Fly safer. 

With full operation of the FES from both seats, safety and flight training is more easy than ever. The "instant power on" of the FES system, with no pylon to raise or retracts, means also less mistakes and less failures.

In critical situations such as a rope break or unexpected release at low altitude behind tug plane, or any mid level failure on winch operation, thanks to FES, you will drive from stress to comfort zone in just a few seconds.

From basic training to X-Country with the Duo Discus FES.

Combined to the updated design of the Duo Discus xl - with the better airbrakes and landing flaps for an easy landing attitude, even for beginners - plus the extended cockpit (the FES system does not remove any space for the front seat pilot), the addition of the FES system turns the Duo in the perfect companion for club activities from basic training to cross-country.

Winch operation for basic training means now, with little use of the engine, capacity for instructors to give the controls sooner and longer to the students with no stress of finding a thermal around the airfield. Even morning training with no lift at all or in stable conditions becomes possible.

Also, the installation of FES engine directly on the main axis of the fuselage means that even with engine in use, the Duo Discus FES is still a Duo Discus in its behaviour and handling, so full school basic program can be performed with no difference when engine is used : the Duo Discus FES is "just" now a Duo Discus with infinite glide ratio at best speed.