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AB Flygplan Grunau Baby II B2 glider ZK-GDG
In addition to training glider pilots, the Grunau Baby was used to train Luftwaffe pilots, who, in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles, could not fly powered aircraft. Many pilots of the Baby II achieved the ‘Silver C’ soaring badge, which required the pilot to be airborne for more than five hours, gain a minimum of 1000 m after takeoff and travelling 50 km.
MOTAT’s Grunau Baby was made in Sweden and was one of two imported by the Whakatane Gliding Club in 1963. The other glider was involved in an accident in which the pilot was killed. There were concerns about the glue joints in the two gliders, so this one was withdrawn from use and donated to MOTAT.
Gliding has been a popular sport in New Zealand and today there are 30 active clubs around the country. We are particularly well-suited for gliding because of our geography and windy weather.
Date: 1945 Manufacturer: AB Flygplan, Sweden Type: Single seat sailplane Span: 13.6 m (45 ft) Length: 5.9 m (20 ft) Accommodation: One pilot
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The
Grunau Baby was designed in Germany by Edmund Schneider as a single seat
sailplane. Production began in 1933 and it is estimated that around 5000
Grunau Babies or derivatives were made worldwide.