RRG Fafnir

The RRG Fafnir was a pioneering German sailplane designed in 1930 by the visionary aeronautical engineer Alexander Lippisch, who operated the Rhön‑Rossitten Gesellschaft (RRG) gliding club. Built as a high‑performance, single‑seat glider, the Fafnir debuted at the 1931 Rhön competition where it quickly demonstrated superior glide ratios and handling, setting new distance records that surpassed 300 km. Its most striking feature was the sleek, cantilever wing with a 20‑meter span, employing a thin, tapered wooden airfoil that provided low drag and a high lift‑to‑drag ratio of about 30:1. The fuselage, crafted from plywood monocoque construction, housed a streamlined cockpit and offered minimal frontal area. Innovative control surfaces included differential ailerons and an all‑moving elevator, giving pilots precise maneuverability in weak thermals. The Fafnir’s success proved the advantages of aerodynamic cleanliness and advanced wing design, influencing later German gliders such as the DFS Olympia and the iconic Me 163 Komet rocket aircraft. Its legacy endures as a benchmark in early soaring technology, showcasing Lippisch’s expertise in shaping high‑speed, low‑drag concepts that would later transition from sailplanes to powered aircraft. Today, a restored example is displayed in several aviation museums, allowing enthusiasts to appreciate its elegant engineering.

Alexander Lippisch

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