1968 Flug-und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein (FFA)

Diamant Sailplane - 19 meter wingspan

Condition: Undergoing Restoration

The FFA Diamant, Diamond in English, was designed by engineering students under supervision of Professor Rauscher at the ETH Zurich and manufactured by Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein AG (FFA) of Altenrhein, Switzerland.

 

Our Diamant has been modified to a 19 meter wingspan or just over 62 feet .

 

The Diamant is noted as the first glider that was built entirely from fiberglass, with no other materials, such as balsa, used as a sandwich.

The initial student prototype design used the wings from a Schleicher Ka 6, but these were replaced on production aircraft with Glasflügel H-301 wings.

 

The HBV and 16.5 were type certified in the United States, while the 18 was in the Experimental - Racing category.

 

Diamant 18s were entered in the 1968 World Gliding Championships, held in Leszno, Poland and placed third and fourth. Ross Briegleb won the 1970 US Nationals at El Mirage, California flying a Diamant 18. He also set the national speed record for the 100 km (62.1 mi) at 88.62 mph.