Wassmer Javelot
Wassmer · France · first flew 1956 · glider
The Wassmer Javelot was a French single-seat wooden sailplane designed for club and cross-country soaring in the mid-1950s. Built by the Wassmer company of Issoire, it was a practical and affordable glider for the post-war French soaring community.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- French mid-wing wooden glider
- Mid-1950s club and touring glider
A conventional mid-wing wooden sailplane with a slender fuselage and moderately high aspect-ratio wings typical of 1950s French glider design.
Specifications
- The Wassmer Javelot has a length of 7.5 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Wassmer developed the Javelot as part of its range of wooden gliders aimed at French aero-clubs. The design followed conventional sailplane practice of the period with a wooden structure and fabric covering. It competed in the growing European cross-country soaring scene of the late 1950s.
Variants
The Javelot was built in limited numbers with minor production variations; Wassmer later developed more sophisticated designs such as the Squale.
Where you'll see it
Flown by French aero-clubs through the late 1950s and 1960s; examples may have survived into private ownership.
Related aircraft
- Wassmer WA-40 Super IV
- Wassmer Squale
- Beechcraft Travel Air
- Boisavia B.260 Anjou
- Cessna 182 Skylane
- Cessna 620
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