Scheibe 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".

Spatz
L-Spatz 55 D-1738
Role Sailplane
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Scheibe
First flight 1952
Number built 471 (L-Spatz)

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

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 11.7 m2 (126 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 19
  • Airfoil: Mü-Profil 14%
  • Empty weight: 153 kg (337 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 265 kg (584 lb)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
  • Rough air speed max: 110 km/h (68.4 mph; 59.4 kn)
  • Aerotow speed: 110 km/h (68.4 mph; 59.4 kn)
  • Winch launch max speed: 90 km/h (55.9 mph; 48.6 kn)
  • Terminal velocity: 200 km/h (124.3 mph; 108.0 kn)
  • g limits: +4 -2
  • Maximum glide ratio: 29 at 80 km/h (49.7 mph; 43.2 kn)
  • Rate of sink: 0.58 m/s (114 ft/min) at 67 km/h (41.6 mph; 36.2 kn)
  • Wing loading: 22.6 kg/m2 (4.6 lb/sq ft)

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.

References
  • 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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