Rolladen-Schneider LS5

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**Rolladen-Schneider LS5**
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Type designation	LS5
Competition class	Open
Number built	1
Crew	1
Length	6.96 m
Cockpit width	0.60 m
Cockpit height	0.80 m
Wingspan	22.78 m
Wing area	13.92 m²
Aspect ratio	37.28
Wing profile:	Wortmann (modified)
Empty mass	ca. 370 kg
Maximum mass	696 kg
Wing loading	33 to 50 kg/m²
Minimum sink ratio	ca. 0.40 m/s at 80 km/h
Best glide ratio	ca. 55 at 100 km/h

The Rolladen-Schneider LS5 was an Open Class single seat sailplane designed by Rolladen-Schneider of which only a single unit was built.

[edit] History

The LS5 was announced in 1980 as Rolladen-Schneider’s entry into the exclusive Open Class. The economic viability of the design was compromised, however, with the arrival in 1981 of the Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3 and Alexander Schleicher ASW 22, both of which outclassed the theoretical performance of the yet-to-fly LS5. Although the moulds had already been completed, Rolladen-Schneider decided not to pursue further development. Klaus Mies from Kaiserslautern used these moulds to produce one glider of the type. This home-built prototype made its maiden flight in 1988, receiving the registration number D-7742. It is presently based at Marpingen in Germany.