SCHEMPP-HIRTH

Plane & Pilot

Friday, March 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipović

Key Takeaways:

Founded by Martin Schempp and Wolf Hirth, Schempp-Hirth has a long history, starting glider production in 1935 and achieving early success with the Minimoa, the first high-performance glider to sell over 100 units.
The company has been a pioneer in sailplane innovation, introducing the first glass fiber glider (the Cirrus) in 1967 and later incorporating advanced materials like carbon fiber in models such as the Ventus A.
Thousands of Schempp-Hirth gliders, including diverse models like the Discus, Duo Discus, Ventus, and Nimbus, are flown worldwide today, available in both pure glider and powered sailplane variations.

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Martin Schempp and Wolf Hirth first met in 1928 Their life-long collaborations would bring about some of the
world’s most respected sailplane designs. Beginning in 1935, the team developed the Minimoa, the first high
performance glider to sell more than a 100 models. In 1967 the company produced the first glass fiber glider,
the Cirrus. Today thousands of their gliders are flying around the world. Schempp-Hirth sailplanes include the Ventus A, an advanced 15-meter-class plane with carbon-fiber technology, thin wings, and a low-profile fuselage. The Ventus B is a 15-meter-class craft with a larger cockpit for tail pilots. The Nimbus 2C (open class) has a 20.3- meter wingspan with either carbon or carbon/fiberglass construction. The Janus B has an 18.2-meter wingspan for high-performance tandem two-place flying. The Janus C has a 20-meter span with carbon wings, seating for two, and competition-type performance. The Janus CM, with a 20-meter span, is a two-place motorglider with carbon wings and fully retractable engine. Schempp-Hirth’s newest sailplanes include the Discus, Duo Discus, Ventus and Nimbus, available in a variety of variations, including pure gliders and powered sailplanes.