The Schneider DFS 108-14 SG-38 ''Schulgleiter'' (School glider) is a German

high-wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing config ...

, cable-braced, single-seat

primary glider Primary glider aircraft, gliders are a category of aircraft that enjoyed worldwide popularity during the 1920s and 1930s as people strove for simple and inexpensive ways to learn to fly.Schweizer, Paul A: ''Wings Like Eagles, The Story of Soaring ...

that was designed by Schneider, Rehberg and Hofmann at Edmund Schneider's factory at Grunau in 1938, hence the designation. It was produced by several builders, including

Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug The , or DFS , was formed in 1933 to centralise all gliding activity in Germany, under the directorship of Professor Walter Georgii. It was formed by the nationalisation of the Rhön-Rossitten Gesellschaft (RRG) at Darmstadt.Reitsch, H., 1955, ...

(DFS).

Design and development

The SG 38 was designed to be a training glider for basic

flight training Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills. Flight training can be conducted under a str ...

by the Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps (NSFK). The usual launch method was by

bungee cord file:Bungee Cord PICT6882a.jpg, Bungee cords equipped with metal hooks A bungee cord (sometimes spelled bungie; also known as a shock cord or an ocky strap) is an elastomer, elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, usua ...

from a sloped hill. Because training was conducted solely by solo flight the aircraft had to be very easy to fly and also easy to repair. The high-wing design uses a kingpost and cable bracing. The primary structure of the glider is of wood, with the wings, tail surfaces and inverted "V" kingpost all finished in doped

aircraft fabric covering Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as are ...

. The pilot sits on a simple seat in the open air, without a windshield. The basic configuration was similar to earlier gliders such as the

Stamer Lippisch Zögling Stamer is a surname. Notable people with the name include: *Evan Stamer Evan Stamer (born 2001) is an American racing driver. He currently competes in the U.S. F2000 National Championship with Ignite Autosport w/ Cape Motorsports. Racing rec ...

and the Grunau IX, but the SG 38 was an entirely new design. Improvements included enlarged tail surfaces for better stability, a separate skid mounted on shock-absorbing springs, and an updated seat for the pilot.Sailplanes 1920-1945, Martin Simons, EQIP, 2001

Operational history

The SG-38 played a critical role in pilot training for the

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in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, as a simple, but robust, trainer for the rapid increase in the number of pilots needed by Germany. It was commonly flown by bungee launch on the slopes of the

Wasserkuppe The Wasserkuppe (;) is the highest mountain in the Rhön Mountains, Rhön range and the tallest elevation in the Germany, German state of Hesse, standing at above sea level. It forms a prominent plateau within the Fulda district and is known as ...

and the hills of Saarmund. From 1949 to 1951 Spain's AISA produced 50 licence-built aircraft. In the UK, Elliotts of Newbury built a copy of the SG.38 called the Elliotts Primary EoN; its version first flown in 1948 and used by the RAF as the Eton TX.1.

Aircraft on display

* Danmarks Flymuseum, Stauning Vestjylland Airport,

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Deutsches Museum The Deutsches Museum (''German Museum'', officially (English: ''German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology'')) in Munich, Germany, is the world's largest museum of science museum, science and technology museum, technology, with a ...

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

* Museo del Aire,

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* Museu do Ar,

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, USA *

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Specifications (SG 38)

Bibliography

Images

File:Gleiter SG-38.jpg, SG-38 bungee launch File:Schulgleiter SG-38 768px.jpg, SG-38 landing File:Fotothek df ld 0003140 001a Sport ^ Flugsport ^ Segelflug.jpg, SG-38 being carried to the launch point File:Aircraft Glider Schneider SG 38.jpg, SG-38 in the

References

{{Swedish military aircraft designations 1930s German sailplanes SG 38 Schulgleiter Articles containing video clips Aircraft first flown in 1938 Glider aircraft High-wing aircraft Edmund Schneider aircraft