DFS Sperber Senior
Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug · Germany · first flew 1936 · glider
The DFS Sperber Senior was a competition sailplane designed and built in Germany in 1936 by Hans Jacobs. During 1937 the sole example visited the United States and scored highest in the US National Soaring Competition.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Narrow ovoid ply-covered fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Shoulder-mounted double straight-tapered gull wing
- Narrow ovoid ply-covered fuselage
- Tailplane mounted on top of the fuselage with a curved, slightly pointed rudder
The wing had a double gull planform with slight taper on the inner third and a taper ratio of 0.45 outboard, with ailerons filling the outer trailing edges. The cockpit was just ahead of the wing under a multipart canopy.
Specifications
- The DFS Sperber Senior has a length of 6.13 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16 m (52 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Although nominally a development of the DFS Rhönsperber, it was a completely new design intended to improve performance and to accommodate larger pilots. It first flew in 1936.
Variants
Only one was built, so there were no variants.
Where you'll see it
It took part in the Rhön German national championships of 1936 and then visited the United States in 1937.
Related aircraft
- DFS Sperber Junior
- DFS 331
- DFS DFS 194
- RRG Fafnir
- Akaflieg Darmstadt D-29
- Antonov A-2
- Avia 60-MP
- Bazzocchi EB.2
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