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We Fly: Stemme S12

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The Stemme S12 is a high-performance motorglider that uniquely combines silent, thermal-dependent soaring with the safety and convenience of a retractable 115 hp engine for takeoff and auxiliary power.
  • It features an impressive 82-foot wingspan, a 53:1 glide ratio, and foldable wings for practical storage, offering a versatile design for touring and cross-country flights.
  • The author describes the S12's flight experience as stable, quiet, and "breathtaking," allowing pilots to easily transition between powered and glided flight while navigating thermals with the help of advanced avionics.
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Soaring is quite unlike any other kind of flying. Plunk yourself down in an open field on a warm, sunny day, as I did last fall, and watch a hawk, wings outstretched, wingtips moving only slightly to adjust the flight path as they trace seemingly endless patterns across the sky in search of a meal. Natural soaring is silent, so quiet, in fact, that a hawk circles unnoticed unless eyes happen to turn skyward.

Rob Mark

Rob Mark is an award-winning journalist, business jet pilot, flight instructor, and blogger.

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