Messerschmitt S 14
Messerschmitt · Germany · first flew 1923 · glider
The Messerschmitt S 14 was an unpowered high-performance sailplane and the last glider design by Willy Messerschmitt, notable for its enclosed cockpit and wing-warping control system at a time when most gliders used open cockpits and ailerons. Two examples were built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Enclosed cockpit unusual for 1923, with landing skid
- Wing-warping roll control — no ailerons
A slender high-wing glider with a notably enclosed cockpit pod; the absence of ailerons and presence of wing-warping linkages distinguish it from contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Messerschmitt S 14 has a length of 5.5 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.8 m (45 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Constructed after the S 13 was lost in a crash on 7 July 1923, the S 14 was financed by Messerschmitt's brother Ferdinand. At the 4th Rhön Soaring Competition in August 1923, pilot Hans Hackmack achieved 303 m above the launch point — the greatest height gain at Rhön that year — winning the altitude prize. Messerschmitt also took the construction prize.
Variants
Two examples were built; the second differed only in minor construction details. After the Rhön success, Messerschmitt immediately turned to powered aircraft beginning with the M 17.
Where you'll see it
Competed successfully at the 1923 Rhön competition; no subsequent operational service. Represents the end of Messerschmitt's glider career before his pivot to the powered aircraft that would define his legacy.
Related aircraft
- Messerschmitt M 17
- Messerschmitt M 18
- Messerschmitt M 24
- Messerschmitt M 28
- Avia BH-11
- Avia BH-5
- Avia BH-8
- Avia BH-9
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.