The Scheibe ''Spatz'' (German: "

Sparrow Sparrow may refer to: Birds * Old World sparrows, family Passeridae * New World sparrows, family Passerellidae * two species in the Passerine family Estrildidae: ** Java sparrow ** Timor sparrow * Hedge sparrow, also known as the dunnock or hedg ...

") is a German glider with a mixed metal and wood construction that was built in 1952 until 1962. Later versions were known as the L-Spatz, the letter L standing for ''Leistung'', which is German for "performance".

Scheibe Flugzeugbau Scheibe Flugzeugbau was a manufacturer of sailplanes and motorgliders in Germany in the second half of the 20th century. Founded by Egon Scheibe at the Munich-Riem Airport to produce his Bergfalke design in 1951,Gunston 1993, p.270 the company h ...

built the Spatz A in 1952. Two years later in 1954 the first L-Spatz 55 was airborne. Three hundred L-Spatz 55s were built in Germany, 155 in France under the name Avialsa A.60 Fauconnet, and 16 in Italy as the Meteor MS-30 L Passero; production was discontinued in 1962. It is a single-seater cantilever shoulder-winged sailplane with a cruising (max L/D) speed of 45 mph. It has an empty weight of 157 kg and a maximum take-off weight of 269 kg. The single spar wing and tail were constructed using fabric-covered wood, whereas the fuselage consisted of steel tubing covered with fabric. The L-Spatz 55 has good climbing performance due to light construction. The glide angle is 29:1. The longest known cross-country flight was more than 600 km from Burg Feuerstein, Germany to France. Many gliding clubs operated the L-Spatz 55, well known for its easy handling, including easy recovery from a spin.

Variants

;Spatz A :Certified in 1952 with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.19 m length. ;Spatz B :Strengthened and improved variant with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.19 m length, certified in 1952. ;Spatz 55 :Certified in 1952 with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.25 m length. ;L-Spatz :Certified in 1954 with a 15.00 metre wingspan, 6.05 m length. ;L-Spatz 55 :Certified in 1954 with a 15.00 metre wingspan, 6.25 m length. ;L-Spatz III :Certified in 1966 with a 15.00 metre wingspan, 6.25 m length. Avialsa-A60-01

;Avialsa 60 Fauconnet :Licence production in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

. ;Meteor MS-30 L-Passero :Licence production in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. ;Electravia Electro Light 2 : Electric aircraft version powered by an electric drive system, with a nose-mounted propeller.Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 166. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015.

Aircraft on display

* Museum für Luftfahrt und Technik * National Soaring Museum * Museum of Military Technique GRYF in Dąbrówka near Wejherowo (Poland)

Specifications (L-Spatz 55)

Notes

References

External links