title: Scheibe Spatz
text: The Scheibe Spatz (German: "Sparrow") is a German glider with a mixed metal and wood construction that was built in 1952 until 1962. Later versions were known as the L-Spatz, the letter L standing for Leistung, which is German for "performance".
  
  Scheibe Flugzeugbau built the Spatz A in 1952. Two years later in 1954 the first L-Spatz 55 was airborne.  Three hundred L-Spatz 55s were built in Germany, 155 in France under the name Avialsa A.60 Fauconnet, and 16 in Italy as the Meteor MS-30 L Passero; production was discontinued in 1962.
  
  It is a single-seater cantilever shoulder-winged sailplane with a cruising (max L/D) speed of 45 mph. It has an empty weight of 157 kg and a maximum take-off weight of 269 kg. The single spar wing and tail were constructed using fabric-covered wood, whereas the fuselage consisted of steel tubing covered with fabric.
  
  The L-Spatz 55 has good climbing performance due to light construction. The glide angle is 29:1. The longest known cross-country flight was more than 600 km from Burg Feuerstein, Germany to France.
  
  Many gliding clubs operated the L-Spatz 55, well known for its easy handling, including easy recovery from a spin.
  
  Variants
  Spatz A
  Certified in 1952 with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.19 m length.
  Spatz B
  Strengthened and improved variant with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.19 m length, certified in 1952.
  Spatz 55
  Certified in 1952 with a 13.20 metre wingspan, 6.25 m length.
  L-Spatz
  Certified in 1954 with a 15.00 metre wingspan, 6.05 m length.
  L-Spatz 55
  Certified in 1954 with a 15.00 metre wingspan,  6.25 m length.
  L-Spatz III
  Certified in 1966 with a 15.00 metre wingspan, 6.25 m length.
  
  Avialsa 60 Fauconnet
  Licence production in France.
  Meteor MS-30 L-Passero
  Licence production in Italy.
  Electravia Electro Light 2
  Electric aircraft version powered by an electric drive system, with a nose-mounted propeller.
  
  Aircraft on display
  Museum für Luftfahrt und Technik
  National Soaring Museum
   Museum of Military Technique GRYF in Dąbrówka near Wejherowo (Poland)
  
  Specifications (L-Spatz 55)
  
  See also
  
  Notes
  
  References
  
  External links
  
  L-Spatz on sailplanedirectory.com
  
  1950s German sailplanes
  Glider aircraft
  Spatz
  Homebuilt aircraft
  Aircraft first flown in 1952