Scheibe Spatz

Last updated
Spatz
L-Spatz 55 D-1738 EDMB 20050925.jpg
L-Spatz 55 D-1738
RoleSailplane
National originGermany
Manufacturer Scheibe
First flight1952
Number built471 (L-Spatz)

The Scheibe Spatz (German: "Sparrow") is a German glider with a mixed metal and wood construction that was built in 1952 until 1962. Later versions were known as the L-Spatz, the letter L standing for Leistung, which is German for "performance".

Contents

Scheibe Flugzeugbau built the Spatz A in 1952. Two years later in 1954 the first L-Spatz 55 was airborne. Three hundred L-Spatz 55s were built in Germany, 155 in France under the name Avialsa A.60 Fauconnet, and 16 in Italy as the Meteor MS-30 L Passero; production was discontinued in 1962.

It is a single-seater cantilever shoulder-winged sailplane with a cruising (max L/D) speed of 45 mph. It has an empty weight of 157 kg and a maximum take-off weight of 269 kg. The single spar wing and tail were constructed using fabric-covered wood, whereas the fuselage consisted of steel tubing covered with fabric.

The L-Spatz 55 has good climbing performance due to light construction. The glide angle is 29:1. The longest known cross-country flight was more than 600 km from Burg Feuerstein, Germany to France.

Many gliding clubs operated the L-Spatz 55, well known for its easy handling, including easy recovery from a spin.

Variants

Spatz A
Certified in 1952 with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.19 m length.
Spatz B
Strengthened and improved variant with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.19 m length, certified in 1952.
Spatz 55
Certified in 1952 with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.25 m length.
L-Spatz
Certified in 1954 with a 15.00 metre wingspan, 6.05 m length.
L-Spatz 55
Certified in 1954 with a 15.00 metre wingspan, 6.25 m length.
L-Spatz III
Certified in 1966 with a 15.00 metre wingspan, 6.25 m length.
French Avialsa A60 on Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (France) field Avialsa-A60-01.jpg
French Avialsa A60 on Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (France) field
Avialsa 60 Fauconnet
Licence production in France.
Meteor MS-30 L-Passero
Licence production in Italy.
Electravia Electro Light 2
Electric aircraft version powered by an electric drive system, with a nose-mounted propeller. [1]

Aircraft on display

Specifications (L-Spatz 55)

Data fromThe World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde [3]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes

  1. ↑ Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 166. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN   1368-485X
  2. ↑ National Soaring Museum (2011). "Sailplanes in Our Collection". Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  3. ↑ Shenstone, B.S.; K.G. Wilkinson (1958). The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde (in English, French, and German) (1st ed.). Zurich: Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue. pp. 68–72.

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References

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