A proven Stemme platform serving scientific research, a flying laboratory

For many years, a Stemme motor glider has been successfully used as part of the BUSARD project, a long-running airborne research programme operated by ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab

Within BUSARD, the aircraft serves as a true flying laboratory, supporting airborne measurement campaigns dedicated to environmental observation, soil and vegetation analysis, and the validation of advanced optical, hyperspectral and infrared sensors. These missions have contributed to European research programmes and to the preparation and validation of satellite-based Earth observation missions.

The choice of a Stemme platform is no coincidence. By combining the aerodynamic efficiency and inherent stability of a glider with a fully integrated propulsion system, the aircraft enables long-endurance flights, precise and repeatable trajectories, low fuel consumption and a low acoustic signature, all key requirements for high-quality scientific data acquisition.

This long-term and successful use illustrates how the Stemme concept goes far beyond the traditional perception of a glider. It demonstrates the value of a hybrid airborne platform, blending soaring performance with integrated propulsion, and offering a highly efficient and flexible solution for demanding scientific and observation missions.

Pictures : ONERA
• The Stemme aircraft used within the BUSARD flying laboratory programme
 • Optronic sensors, nadir-oriented hyperspectral cameras integrated in BUSARD pods
 • SAR imagery, Ka-band radar data acquired using the BUSARD flying laboratory
 ONERA article is available via the link urlr.me/uSCzU2

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