DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter
DFS · Germany · first flew 1938 · glider
The DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter (school glider) is a German unpowered primary training glider of 1938, designed to teach novice pilots the fundamentals of flight control at minimum cost and complexity. Its open parasol-wing design offers an unobstructed view of the airflow and control surfaces.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Open primary glider with skeletal fuselage and single high-mounted parasol wing |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Open primary glider with skeletal fuselage and single high-mounted parasol wing
- Student pilot seat fully exposed with minimal enclosure, rudimentary controls
The SG 38 is unmistakeable: a completely open primary glider with a parasol wing braced by wires, the pilot sitting entirely in the open on a bare seat with no fuselage enclosure.
Specifications
- The DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter has a length of 6.28 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.41 m (34 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 115 km/h (71 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (DFS), the SG 38 was produced in large numbers to train Luftwaffe and Hitler Youth glider pilots before and during WWII. Thousands were built, and the type also saw wide post-war use in gliding clubs across Europe.
Variants
Minor construction variations exist across manufacturers and batches; the design was essentially unchanged through production.
Where you'll see it
Widely used by German gliding schools from 1938 and post-war by European flying clubs; many examples survive in museums.
Related aircraft
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