Spalinger S.15
Jakob Spalinger · Switzerland · first flew 1930 · glider
The Spalinger S.15 is a Swiss single-seat training glider first flown in 1930. Only the 1934 S.15K was produced in series.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Deep ply-covered hexagonal fuselage with a skid running below |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High wings with rectangular inner panels and tapered outer panels
- Single external bracing strut on each side
- Deep ply-covered hexagonal fuselage with a skid running below
A wooden glider with a deep ply-covered fuselage, a conventional tail with a short fin and a balanced rudder, and a landing skid.
Specifications
- The Spalinger S.15 has a length of 5.95 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.6 m (48 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The 1930 S.15 led to Jakob Spalinger's long series of wooden gull-wing gliders. The earlier versions all had high wings with rectangular inner panels, tapered outer panels and pairs of single external bracing struts.
Variants
The earlier variants differed chiefly in span and aspect ratio according to their role, though the shortest-span S.15A was not completed. The S.15K of 1934 gained a gull wing, and the S.15C was called the Milan.
Where you'll see it
At least 26 were built, mostly S.15Ks, and 21 S.15Ks were produced. The type filled the same training role as the Grunau Baby in Germany. Ten S.15Ks remained on the Swiss register into the 1950s, and one restored example remains active in 2019.
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