Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 6, 2026

DFS Seeadler

The DFS Seeadler was a German flying boat sailplane designed by Hans Jacobs of the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (DFS). It was version of the 1935 DFS Rhönadler, with a new fuselage and strongly gulled wings to keep them clear from spray. The aircraft was first flown in the summer of 1935, test piloted by Hanna Reitsch, and towed by a Dornier Do 12.

Last revised
Aug 6, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
316 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
DFS Seeadler
General information
TypeFlying boat sailplane
National originGermany
ManufacturerDeutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug
Designer
History
First flight12 November 1936

The DFS Seeadler (Sea Eagle) was a German flying boat sailplane designed by Hans Jacobs1 of the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (DFS). It was version of the 1935 DFS Rhönadler, with a new fuselage and strongly gulled wings to keep them clear from spray.2 The aircraft was first flown in the summer of 1935, test piloted by Hanna Reitsch,3 and towed by a Dornier Do 12.4

Specifications

Data from Die deutschen Flugboote : Flugboote, Amphibien-Flugboote u. Projekte von 1909 bis zur Gegenwart,5 Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Handbuch der deutschen Luftfahrt- und Zubehör-Industrie 19446

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: 85 kg (187 lb)
  • Length: 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 17.36 m (56 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 18 m2 (190 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 16.75
  • Airfoil: root: Göttingen 652; tip: Göttingen 535
  • Empty weight: 240 kg (529 lb)
  • Gross weight: 325 kg (717 lb)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 20:1
  • Rate of sink: 0.8 m/s (160 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 18 kg/m2 (3.7 lb/sq ft)
References

References

  1. Air Pictorial. 24. Air League of the British Empire: 85. 1962. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Simons, Martin (2006). Sailplanes 1920-1945 (2nd revised ed.). Königswinter: EQIP Werbung & Verlag GmbH. p. 110. ISBN 3-9806773-4-6.
  3. Reitsch, Hanna (1997). The Sky My Kingdom (reprint ed.). Guildford and King's Lynn: Stackole Books. p. 105. ISBN 9781853672620.
  4. "Dornier Do. 12" (in Russian). Уголок неба. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  5. Gütschow, Fred (1978). Die deutschen Flugboote : Flugboote, Amphibien-Flugboote u. Projekte von 1909 bis zur Gegenwart (in German) (1. Aufl ed.). Stuttgart: Motorbuch-Verlag. pp. 41–43. ISBN 3879435650.
  6. Schneider, Helmut (Dipl.Ing.) (1944). Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Handbuch der deutschen Luftfahrt- und Zubehör-Industrie (in German) (Facsimile reprint 1986 ed.). Leipzig: Herm. Beyer Verlag. p. 330. ISBN 381120484X. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)