Rolladen-Schneider LS-9
The LS9 was Rolladen-Schneider's only self-launching sailplane, adapting the wings of the LS6-18w and the fuselage of the LS4 to make room for a retractable engine. Its prototype first flew in 1995 with a Rotax two-stroke, but Rotax's discontinuation of that engine stalled the programme until the Solo 2625 and a Technoflug propeller were adopted instead. Production finally got underway around 2000, but only ten aircraft were completed before Rolladen-Schneider went into receivership and closed the line for good, leaving the LS9 one of the rarest self-launching gliders ever built by a major German manufacturer.
Did you know?
Look for the small retractable engine in the nose: the LS9 was Rolladen-Schneider's only self-launch glider, built around an LS6 wing and LS4 fuselage.
Specifications
| Length | 6.8 m (22 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Height | 1.4 m (5 ft) |
| Persons on board | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.5 t |
| Range | 550 NM (1,019 km) |
| Rate of climb | 780 ft/min (4 m/s) |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Rolladen-Schneider LS-9 starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
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