What is the ECARYS ES15 plane?

The ES15 aircraft from ECARYS, a division of Stemme AG in Strausberg, Germany, is working missions around the world each day, company officials say. When ECARYS engineers designed the concept, modules were taken from proven platforms, concentrating on how to create payload and space to provide a flexible aircraft that delivers.

The design is based on a 59-foot (18-meter) wingspan and a retractable tricycle undercarriage which is stable to crosswinds (up to 16 knots) and has a wide wheelbase – ideal characteristics indeed for reliable ground handling and flight operations.

The fuselage is divided into three sections, starting with the hybrid composite cockpit module, comprising the propeller and cockpit area. An array of avionics solutions are available. Second is the mid-fuselage comprising a center steel frame compartment for the Rotax turbo-charged engine.

The midsection comprises the cantilever wing with flaps across the entire wingspan. This provides incredible take-off and landing performance which – when combined with the speed brakes – enables the ES15 to land on airstrips inaccessible to many other aircraft.

The tailboom section completes the special platform. Throughout each module the ECARYS engineering team can adapt and modify according to the customer’s requirements.

THE ES15 climbs to 7,000 feet within 12 minutes, putting its payload to use. With 115 horsepower in the turbo-charged Rotax engine, the performance will meet most mission objectives. An operating ceiling is certified to 16,000 feet.

Depending on the configuration the ES15 can achieve between 10 and 20 hours of endurance.

Burning just 15 liters of fuel per hour means that it is an incredibly efficient and environmentally conscious platform.

Just as important as its maximum speed is its slow speed flight characteristics – at 50 knots it can perform 30-degree bank turns putting you in control when you need to be focused on a particular spot.

With full payload, operating speeds are as high as 130 knots and max speed is 148 knots giving ample speed to keep on top of a moving situation.

The ES15 takes up a small area of hangar space as the folding wings reduce the wingspan to just 25 feet. The wings can be removed for trailer or container transportation. This takes less than 1 hour and requires just two people.

Related reading: S-PLANE electronic subsystems transform ECARYS ES15 into optionally piloted aircraft

The ability to put the ES15 in a trailer or container is vitally important for operational flexibility. It can be moved efficiently and be ready for operations in one hour. ECARYS offer a 40-foot container which doubles as field maintenance.

The avionics and electrics are a bespoke solution according to the mission requirements from each customer. Standard avionics are impressive and state of the art and we understand that each customer has varying requirements. The Electrics are either an 1800W/28 VDC generator or 3900/28VDC generator, a 24 Ah/24 VDC buffer battery system and a customer tailored 28 VDC electrical network bus with sockets.

ECARYS is a division of the German aircraft manufacturer, STEMME AG. The company’s ES15 aircraft has been proven in the field since 2012 and has proven itself as an incredibly efficient and robust platform for airborne surveillance, commercial and scientific, and reconnaissance missions, officials say.

Company officials welcome cooperation with commercial partners, scientific establishments, and governments to develop the platform according to their needs. The ES15 is highly adaptable as demonstrated by the company’s partnership with Safran Electronics and Defense and the Patroller aircraft, a combined unmanned and manned configured aircraft. ECARYS supplies the base platform and will tailor it according to specific requirements.

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