Not many products launched in 1993 remain at the top of their game 25 years later, but the Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus is one such rarity. The German-designed, two-seat glider built in the Czech Republic is renowned for high performance (its glide ration is 44:1), precise handling, optically perfect glass, and comfort. In the hands of skilled pilots, these gliders make marathon flights up and down the Appalachian Mountains and Sierra Nevada, as well as the European Alps, South American Andes, and the entire South Island of New Zealand.
Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy fly them in Colorado Springs, where they’re known as TG–15As.
More than 500 have been built, and they’re recognizable for their relatively large cockpits and slightly forward-swept wings. The Duo Discus has an empty weight of about 900 pounds, a wingspan of almost 66 feet, and a retractable main wheel. They often come with hidden “sustainer” engines that enable them to return to their home airports under power if they run out of lift.
A Duo Discus was the best part of the 1999 movie The Thomas Crown Affair.
But be warned, these high-end gliders are pricey. Used models range from $120,000 to more than $250,000.
SPEC SHEET
Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus XL
Powerplant: None
Seats: 2
Length: 28 feet 3 inches
Height: 5 feet 3 inches
Wing span: 65 feet 7 inches
Empty weight: 900 pounds
Useful load: 640 pounds
Max gross weigh 1,540 pounds
Performance
Max permitted speed: 141 knots
Range: As far as the lift takes you
