Back to sailplane index

Specifications

• Span 10.41 m.
• Area 16.00 sq. m.
• Aspect ratio 6.77
• Empty weight 125 kg.
• Gross weight 210 kg.
• Wing loading 13.1 kg. / sq. m.  

Performance

• L/D max. about 10
• Min. sink about 1.5 m/s

Other

• Country of origin Germany
• Designer Rehberg/ Schneider/ Hoffman
• No. of seats 1
• No. built 1000+

Schneider Grunau Baby

Specifications

• Span 13.56 m./ 44.5 ft
• Area 14.17 sq. m. / 152.5 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 13
• Airfoil Go 535
• Empty weight 159 kg. / 350 lb.
• Payload 91 kg. / 200 lb.
• Gross weight 250 kg. / 550 lb.
• Wing loading 17.64 kg. / sq. m. / 3.6 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure wood/ fabric 

Performance

• L/D max. 17 61 kph / 33 kt / 38 mph
• Min. sink 0.79 m/s / 2.6 fps / 1.54 kt
• 47 kph / 25 kt / 29 mph

Other

• Country of origin Germany
• Designer Edmund Schneider
• No. of seats 1
• No. built over 6,000
• No. in the U.S. 5

The Grunau Baby is the most widely produced sailplane design with more than 6,000 having been built in Germany, Great Britain, France, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Romania, South Africa, Australia, China, Canada, Argentina, the U.S. and other countries. The design first flew in 1931 and wet through several developments before the most popular configuration, the –2B was introduced. Series production was undertaken by Schneider and, under license, by other manufacturers in Germany, including Schleicher with the later –3B, Nord in France (Nord 1300) and Elliotts in Great Britain (EoN Type 8 Baby). The –2B model has an open cockpit, skid landing gear and airbrakes, althrough many have been modified by the addition of canopies. The Vintage Sailplane Association has plans.

Grunau-Baby V

Specifications

• Span 14.00 m.
• Area 15.00 sq. m.
• Aspect ratio 13.06
• Airfoil Go 535
• Empty weight 202 kg.
• Gross weight 420 kg.
• Wing loading 28.0 kg. / sq. m.  

Performance

• L/D max. 19 kph
• Min. sink 0.90 m/s 62 kph

Other

• Country of origin Germany
• Designer Herbert Gomolzig, Wuppertal
• No. of seats 2

ES-49

Specifications

• Span 16.03 m.
• Area 21.80 sq. m.
• Aspect ratio 11.79
• Airfoil Go 549
• Empty weight 277 kg.
• Gross weight 480 kg.
• Wing loading 22.0kg. / sq. m.

 Performance

• L/D max. 24 70 kph
• Min. sink 0.85 m/s 65 kph

Other

• Country of origin Germany
• Designer Edmund Schneider
• No. of seats 2
• No. built 8

Schneider ES-59 Arrow

Specifications

• Span 13.23 m./ 43.4 ft
• Area 11.00 sq. m. / 118.3 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 16
• Airfoil NACA 63-618 mod.
• Empty weight 174 kg. / 383 lb.
• Payload 106 kg. / 233 lb.
• Gross weight 280 kg. / 616 lb.
• Wing loading 25.45 kg. / sq. m. / 5.2 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure wood/ fabric wings and tail, wood fuselage 

Performance

• L/D max. 30 89 kph / 48 kt / 55 mph
• Min. sink 0.82 m/s / 2.7 fps / 1.60 kt
• 77 kph / 42 kt / 48 mph

Other

• Country of origin Australia
• Designer Harry Schneider
• No. of seats 1
• No. built 10
• No. in the U.S. 1

Edmund Schneider, who designed the Grunau Baby and manufactured at Grunau in Silesia, Germany before World War II, moved to Australia after the war with his two sons. With support from the Gliding Federtion of Australia, Schneider established the sailplane business there and produced several new sailplane designs. The Arrow is a ship with an onepiece wing designed by Edmund’s son Harry. A two-piece 15 m. wing version was contructed for the 1965 World Championships.

Schneider ES-60 Boomerang

Specifications

• Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
• Area 12.82 sq. m. / 138 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 17.5
• Airfoil Wortmann
• Empty weight 241 kg. / 531 lb.
• Payload 106 kg. / 234 lb.
• Gross weight 347 kg / 765 lb
• Wing loading 26.07 kg. / sq. m. / 5.5 lb. / sq. ft.
• Structure all wood. 

Performance

• L/D max. 31 90 kph / 49 kt / 56 mph
• Min. sink 0.72 m/s / 2.35 fps / 1.39 kt
• 74 kph / 40 kt / 46 mph

Other

• Country of origin Australia
• Designer Harry Schneider
• No. of seats 1
• No. built approx. 30
• No. in the U.S. 1

Schneider built the Schleicher Ka-6 under license, but it was considered too light for the strong thermal conditions in Australia. The ES-60 Boomerang was designed at the request of the Gliding Federation of Australia as a faster and stronger Standard Class sailplane for competitions. The original model had an all-moving tail, but a version with a fixed tailplane and hinged elevator, the ES-60B or Super Arrow, was produced later.

If you have any comments or additional info or picture e-mail me

Back to sailplane index