Why are so many Stemme S10-VT motorgliders for sale?

This is a good thread and I would like to add my 2 cents worth. I
did have 5 flying machines, 2 single engine aircraft and 3 gliders. I
decided a month ago to reduce my fleet. With the power planes, and the
fact that I might loose my medical, letting go of the Lancair ES and
keeping the new Jabiru J250 light sports aircraft made sense. The
beautiful Lancair now has a very happy new owner. The decision with
the 3 soaring machines was more difficult. I have a Stemme S10-VT, a
DG800B and a SparrowHawk. I decided to lighten up by one. Which one?
If you have read what has been said most of the considerations have
been mentioned and I concur with almost all previously said.
OK, so what are my personal preferences? Minimum hazzle and maximum
fun. The DG rigging is a pain and really needs 2 people. So for the
winter it goes into its trailer. Both the Stemme and the SparrowHawk
fit into T hangers and are used year around. Much better ground
handlng with the Stemme and the SparrowHawk. The performances of the
DG and Stemme are virtually identical. The Stemme is a 2 place side by
side machine and I like that. The Stemme can cruise indefinitely at
greater than 100 knots up to 18,000 feet. It is the most versatile and
convenient motor glider (power plane?) in the world. The SparrowHawk
is by far the most fun glider I have ever flown, superbly light in its
handling and its ground handling is second to no glider. Just 100% fun
although I don't attempt 100k XCs with it (that's reserved for my 50/1
ships).
So which one of the 3 soaring machines do you think I have up for
sale?
Dave

On Oct 31, 11:23 am, "
wrote:
This is a good thread and I would like to add my 2 cents worth. I
did have 5 flying machines, 2 single engine aircraft and 3 gliders. I
decided a month ago to reduce my fleet. With the power planes, and the
fact that I might loose my medical, letting go of the Lancair ES and
keeping the new Jabiru J250 light sports aircraft made sense.

If you lose your medical (fail an FAA medical test), then it's my
understanding that you can't fly gliders, motorgliders or LSAs
either. You don't need to pass an aviation medical for the latter,
but you need to self-certify that you are fit to fly. Failure of an
FAA medical would overrule any self-certification.

So, if you think you are going to fail the FAA medical, just allow it
to lapse, then you can (fairly) honestly self-certify.

Perhaps specialists in this medical area would like to comment.

Mike

I've owned a S10VT since 2009. It is the only machine that is good for cruising at 100 kts consuming 3 gallons/hour for up to 9 hours and, when in glider mode, has a performance par to 15 m gliders
It is also very balanced for low speed flying in thermals.

The new S12 must be even better

Folks who can afford products like the Stemme tend to like that new car smell. Plus Stemme's seem to hold their value well, which makes the upgrade even more appealing. In my view owning a Stemme is like owning a Supercar. I've heard the Stemme is a descent glider, but I've also heard the new one (12?) with the longer wings (26m?) doesn't perform much better than the original one. But so what? :-) It has longer wings! It is therefore cooler. And so on... This doesn't have to be entirely rational. See classic or sportscar owners, or airplane owners, etc.

I'm always surprised that Stemme owners never seem to enter contests such as the open nationals or sports class nationals. It would be fun to see how they "actually" perform even within the minimal level of objective measure that US OLC tasking still provides. Do Stemme's ever compete in Europe?

At the end of they day, if I lived out west, and just wanted to play glider pilot once in awhile and take friends for rides with ease, the Stemme is still the coolest motor glider on earth.

Looking forward to taking a ride in one someday soon.

In rebuttal to Post#4 (Mal): The S10-VT's high L/D,
low minimum sink rate, and jettison-able canopy for
bail-out make it one of the safest and most capable
light aircraft available. I've never felt safer flying
in any other aircraft.

Posting a 2002 incident (whose cause was identified
and corrected), coupled with a 2006 incident (the cause
of which is not stated/unknown) is unfair. I would
remind Mal that the majority of aircraft crashes are
caused by pilot error, not aircraft problems.

I can't really speak to the reason why more may be
on the market at any given time .... LSA may be a factor,
or perhaps sellers are considering purchasing the new
S6.

I have yet to meet a dissatisfied S10-VT pilot ....
quite the contrary!

In rebuttal to Post#4 (Mal): The S10-VT's high L/D,
low minimum sink rate, and jettison-able canopy for
bail-out make it one of the safest and most capable
light aircraft available. I've never felt safer flying
in any other aircraft.

Posting a 2002 incident (whose cause was identified
and corrected), coupled with a 2006 incident (the cause
of which is not stated/unknown) is unfair. I would
remind Mal that the majority of aircraft crashes are
caused by pilot error, not aircraft problems.

I can't really speak to the reason why more may be
on the market at any given time .... LSA may be a factor,
or perhaps sellers are considering purchasing the new
S6.

I have yet to meet a dissatisfied S10-VT pilot ....
quite the contrary!

"I enjoyed her company 100% of the time. We fly together 75% of the time".

A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) often says "I've been happily married for ten years. I've been LEGALLY married for thirty."

I flew a few hundred hours in a Stemme S10V (no turbo, Limbach engine). Based at my club in Varese, I was able to reach the Atlas mountains in Morocco in just three flights.
When using the engine, the running costs are quite high, because of the propeller's limited TBO which significantly adds to the engine's overhauls. I've been told that TBO has been increased so its impact is a bit less.

The Limbach engine performed adequately but has single ignition. It is best suited to long, hard runways and not-too-high elevations. No problems taking off in Ouarzazate with 40°C (hot) at 1.300m MSL in June, two on board and slightly over max mass. The runway is 3 km long, however.

It's a side-by-side cockpit and that implies a few remarks. Of course it's more "social", but not plenty of room for two large male adults. Seating position is very comfortable, after I added cushions to support my thigs and knees. Visibility towards the side opposite to your seat is significantly less than in a tandem cockpit.
Also, Center of Gravity moves forward quite a lot with two people on board; if it's setup to fly safely while solo, it will be heavier on controls and require too much trim and stick when flown double. If setup for double, it will be impossible to fly solo (exceeding rearmost CoG). I enjoeyd it the most when flying solo.
Handling gets lazy with positive flap. I used Zero until I was well established in a decent thermal, and then added flap to reduce speed and circling diameter. Any corrections are much easier with zero flaps. Use landing only on final, after having found the correct alignment.

An Italian guy used it with excellent results for a few years in the Open Class championship. He stopped this activity when handicap factors were abolished for italian national championships in any class except Club and TwoSeater.

I miss the Stemme.

Aldo Cernezzi
www.voloavela.it

hi i want to trade my appartment in thailand for stemme s 10vt
price range is + - 85.000 euro
18th floor 1 bedroom, living , 2 toilets, 1 XL bath tub.. building is accommodated with sauna fitness swimming pool restaurant located in bangkok rama3. at pst condo. 5 min to shopping malls. +-3 km to center of bangkok. the rent is 500 euro per/m. but is not for rent at the moment
i have never glide befor, this summer im getting my firt lesson and im hoping a trade for a glider as wel.

you can contact me by 0066 (0) 87 031 28 52






thank you

Hi, you will need more double the price you mentioned for an S10-VT in
good condition. Good luck!

Dan

On 5/31/2017 10:08 PM, wrote:
hi i want to trade my appartment in thailand for stemme s 10vt
price range is + - 85.000 euro
18th floor 1 bedroom, living , 2 toilets, 1 XL bath tub.. building is accommodated with sauna fitness swimming pool restaurant located in bangkok rama3. at pst condo. 5 min to shopping malls. +-3 km to center of bangkok. the rent is 500 euro per/m. but is not for rent at the moment
i have never glide befor, this summer im getting my firt lesson and im hoping a trade for a glider as wel.

you can contact me by 0066 (0) 87 031 28 52






thank you

--
Dan, 5J