Schempp-Hirth Arcus M

Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau · Germany · first flew 2009 · light aircraft

The Schempp-Hirth Arcus M is a self-launching touring motor-glider with side-by-side seating and a 20m wingspan, combining the soaring performance of the Arcus glider with complete autonomy from tow-planes. It is the definitive touring motor-glider for performance-oriented clubs.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	Self-launching motor-glider with retractable engine in fuselage and side-by-side seating
T — Tail	T-tail

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Spot it by:

Self-launching motor-glider with retractable engine in fuselage and side-by-side seating
20m wingspan with pronounced upswept winglets and T-tail
Wide panoramic canopy seating two pilots side by side

Identical in external silhouette to the unpowered Arcus except for the dorsal engine housing behind the cockpit. The wide side-by-side canopy, 20m winglets, and T-tail are defining features shared with the pure glider.

Specifications

The Schempp-Hirth Arcus M has a length of 8.75 m (29 ft).
It has a wingspan of 20 m (66 ft).
Its maximum speed is 270 km/h (168 mph).
Typical crew: 2 (side-by-side).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 2009 as the self-launching variant of the Arcus, the Arcus M uses a retractable Bombardier Rotax 914 engine to achieve self-launch and climb to soaring altitude. It shares the Arcus airframe and achieves a glide ratio around 50:1 with engine retracted.

Variants

The Arcus E is an electric-sustainer variant without full self-launch capability; the Arcus M is the fully self-launching version. The basic unpowered Arcus is listed separately.

Where you'll see it

Operated by well-equipped gliding clubs and private syndicates in Germany, Austria, and the UK for long-range touring tasks; valued because it eliminates tow-plane dependency for cross-country flights.

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