There are glider pilots I’ve read about online who have flown as many as 50 different gliders. I’m nowhere near that number – and likely never will be – but my own list of 24 is slowly growing. (Links are to Wikipedia.)
- Doppel Raab
- Krosno KR-03
- Schweizer SGS 2-33
- Schweizer SGS 1-26
- Schleicher ASK-21
- Schleicher ASK-18
- Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus
- Slingsby T-21
- Schleicher ASK-13
- Pilatus B4
- Rolladen-Schneider LS4
- Scheibe Bergfalke (BeFa)
- Schempp-Hirth Cirrus K
- Schleicher ASK-23
- LET L-23 Super Blanik
- Grob G102
- Schleicher K-7
- Schemp-Hirth Discus
- Glasfluegel Kestrel
- DG Flugzeugbau DG-10001
- Diamond HK36 Super Dimona (Motor Glider)
- MDM-1 Fox
- SF 25
- Grob 103 Twin
The number of glider manufacturers has declined over the years. Although Wikipedia lists pretty much everyone who has ever made a glider, I’m only going to list companies here that are currently producing gliders or supporting gliders they’ve made.
DG Flugzeugbau in Bruchsal, Germany. I had the chance to tour their very spacious, modern factory during the summer of 2012 with some German glider friends, coworkers, and CAP Cadets.
Jonkers Sailplanes are produced in South Africa and becoming increasingly more popular.
Schemp-Hirth Flugzeugbau is located in the town of Kirchheim (Teck), Germany not too far from the historic Hahnweide glider field where I flew for two years.
Alexander Schleicher is in Poppenhausen, Germany, not far from the well known and historic Wasserkuppe where I did my initial German aerobatic training. On a rainy day during the aerobatic course we had a chance to tour the factory. I saw the mold that every ASK-21 I’ve flown came out of!
American Windward Performance is a new glider manufacturer, but has had good luck so far.
A brief edit to add a link to my personal page. As of the time I write this, I have flown 21 different airplanes. Maybe both lists will grown longer.
