View source for Rolladen-Schneider LSD Ornith

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{{Infobox aircraft
 | name=LSD Ornith
 | image=Lsornith foto.jpg
 | caption=
 | type=[[FAI Two Seater Class|Two-seater class]] sailplane
 | national_origin=Germany
 | manufacturer=[[Rolladen-Schneider]]
 | designer=
 | first_flight=May 1972
 | introduction=
 | retired=
 | status=
 | primary_user=
 | number_built=1
 | developed_from=
 | variants=
}}

The '''Rolladen-Schneider LSD Ornith''' is the first two-seater sailplane to have been built from plastic composites. The single exemplar was designed by Wolf Lemke and Karl Pummer and first flew in May 1972, a few weeks before the [[Akaflieg Braunschweig SB-10 Schirokko]].

==Design and development==
As far as possible, components from the serially-produced [[Rolladen-Schneider LS1|LS1]] [[sailplane]] were used, including the fuselage forms. This resulted in a cramped cockpit, where the pedals of the rear seat are almost upon the front seat control stick. The two-piece canopy extends back up to the wing spar. The undercarriage comprises fixed wheel and tailskid. The very large rudder is quite striking. The wings were extended at the root by approximately one and a half metres, yielding a span of eighteen metres, with two degrees of negative sweep. Schempp Hirth airbrakes sprout from the wing upper surfaces. Separate actions for the nose-hook and centre of gravity hook are the only control oddity in this pleasant-flying design. The empty weight of only 287&nbsp;kg is remarkably light for a double-seater.

The Ornith achieved some notable gliding records flying from Switzerland and South Africa. Only one LSD was built and is today in the [[German Gliding Museum]] on the [[Wasserkuppe]] mountain.

== Specifications ==
[[File:Rolladen Schneider LSD Ornith F 82-36.jpg|thumb|LSD Ornith prototype, 1971]]
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = met

|crew=Two
|span m=18.00
|span ft=59
|span in=1
|wing area sqm=12.4
|wing area sqft=133
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->26.1
|empty weight kg=287
|empty weight lb=631
|gross weight kg=450
|gross weight lb=990
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> >40
|sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes -->0.6
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->120
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|see also=
|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
*[[List of gliders]]
}}

== References ==
{{Commons category|Rolladen-Schneider LSD Ornith}}
*[http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ Sailplane Directory]
*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965–2000, Eqip, 2004

{{Rolladen-Schneider aircraft}}

[[Category:1970s German sailplanes]]
[[Category:Rolladen-Schneider aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1972]]
[[Category:T-tail aircraft]]
[[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]]