Development
The LS4, successor to the LS1 in the Standard Class, made its first flight in 1980. It is the fourth most produced non-military glider (after the Grunau Baby, Blaník, and Schleicher K 8 trainers). A total of 1,048 were built until Rolladen-Schneider entered receivership in 2003. Its long production run is comparable only to that of the Schempp-Hirth Discus.
The LS4 won the first two places in the Standard Class at the 1981 World Championships in Paderborn, West Germany, and the first six places (and twenty-one out of the first twenty-five) at the 1983 Worlds in Hobbs, New Mexico. It is still a favourite in handicapped competitions and as a club and recreational aircraft.
This type consolidated Rolladen-Schneider's reputation for well rounded sailplanes that are both easy to fly and top performers. It is docile enough for beginners and its performance is only slightly below the latest standard class sailplanes. Given the continued interest in the type, the LS4 may be put back in production by the Slovenian manufacturer AMS-Flight.
The LS4 was succeeded by the LS7.
Read more about this topic: Rolladen-Schneider LS4
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