Schleicher AS 34Me

The Schleicher AS 34Me is a German glider manufactured by Alexander Schleicher. It is a self-launcher that uses an electrical propulsion system.

Design and development
The AS 34Me is a single-seat, mid-wing sailplane of composite construction, with a retractable monowheel landing gear and a T-tail. The design is based upon the ASW 28, with an unflapped wing. It can be flown with an 18 m span and 11.9 m2 area or a 15 m span and 10.5 m2. The power unit has already been used in Schleicher ASG 32 EI, except the batteries are mounted in the wings rather than the fuselage.

The AS 34Me has an air-cooled EMRAX motor with 35 kW maximum and 25 kW continuous power output and a completely retractable propeller, unlike front electric sustainer (FES) units used on gliders such as the Schempp-Hirth Ventus-3. The battery has a capacity of 8.6kWh. The manufacture claims a maximum rate of climb at take-off of 3.7 m/s (728 ft/min). The remaining propulsion capacity after a take-off to 600 m (with a gross weight of 477 kg) will provide a further rate of climb of 2.5 m/s (492 ft/min) to an altitude of 2200 m (7200 ft) and a range of 125 km (77 mi) using a "climb and glide" method. The glider can be flown in the Standard class or in the 18 metre Class.