Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co


Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co is a major manufacturer of sailplanes located in Poppenhausen, near Fulda in Germany.
It is also the oldest sailplane manufacturer in the world.

History

The company was founded in 1927 by Alexander Schleicher using money that he had won as a pilot in a gliding competition. It grew quickly in size and fame, producing many notable designs including the Anfänger , Zögling , Professor, Mannheim, and the Stadt Frankfurt .
Meanwhile, the aircraft produced under contract by the company continued to grow in size and complexity, reaching their pinnacle with the DFS Rhönadler and DFS Rhönbussard designed by Hans Jacobs, and a huge, three-seat experimental glider built from a design by Alexander Lippisch for the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug.

Production during WW2

By the time war broke out in Europe in 1939, Schleicher was already employing hundreds of workers in what was a major enterprise.
During World War II, the factory was used to maintain and repair training gliders for the Hitler Youth, who received flight training at the Wasserkuppe.
At the end of the war in 1945, aviation activities were suspended in allied-occupied Germany, and Alexander Schleicher returned to his roots, using his factory to build furniture until the restrictions were lifted in 1951, and the company could build sailplanes once more.

In the 21st century

The company is managed by Alexander's grandsons, Peter Kremer, and Ulrich Kremer.

Gliders

The first notable post-war designs were made by Rudolf Kaiser and include:
The modern era of using composite materials such as fiberglass and carbon fiber began with single-seat gliders designed by Gerhard Waibel. His designs are:
Designers Martin Heide and Michael Greiner have produced:
Following the retirement of Martin Heide, successive aircraft were designed by a team that includes Joschka Schmeisl, Paul Anklam, Andreas Storch, Ulrich Simon, Tobias Mörsel and Manfred Munch: