Schempp-Hirth Janus

Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau · Germany · first flew 1974 · glider

The Schempp-Hirth Janus is a high-performance two-seat glider with side-by-side seating, offering instructors and advanced students a shared cross-country experience without sacrificing performance. Its 20-metre wing gives a glide ratio around 44:1.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.15 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
High-performance two-seat glider with long 20m wingspan and T-tail
Side-by-side seating distinguishes it from tandem two-seaters

The side-by-side cockpit with a wide, low canopy is the primary identifier — no other high-performance sailplane uses this layout so visibly. The 20m wing and T-tail complete the picture.

Specifications

The Schempp-Hirth Janus has a length of 8.15 m (27 ft).
It has a wingspan of 20 m (66 ft).
Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
Typical crew: 2 (side-by-side).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Introduced in 1974, the Janus was designed to give touring clubs a high-performance two-seater suitable for cross-country flights. It was succeeded by the Janus B with a revised wing and the Janus C with a sustainer engine, each expanding the type's utility.

Variants

Janus B improved the wing aerodynamics; Janus C added a retractable sustainer for self-launch and mountain soaring. The Arcus is the modern successor to the Janus concept.

Where you'll see it

Used by European gliding clubs for advanced dual training and touring; several remain in UK BGA fleets where they serve for cross-country coaching.

Related aircraft

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