Jonker Sailplanes

22/10/2026

14/10/2026

🏆 World No. 1 Stefan Langer flies the JS5 Rey for the first time! ✈️

What happens when one of the world’s best glider pilots takes the controls of the JS5 Rey for the very first time?

IGC World Ranking No. 1 Stefan Langer shares his first impressions of our 24.2 m Open Class glider — and gives an independent pilot’s perspective on its handling, performance and flying characteristics.

🎥 In this video, Stefan joins Uys Jonker for a closer look at the JS5 Rey, including the story behind its Solo self-launch system.

Then it’s time to fly! From a powerful self-launch to roll rate tests, airbrake performance and landing, Stefan puts the JS5 Rey through its paces.

And perhaps the most interesting question of all: How does a 24.2 m wingspan really feel in the hands of a world-class pilot?

A big thank you to Stefan for sharing his experience and first impressions!

👉 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/NEVOtyxR1K8



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Stefan Langer, Weltmeister und Nummer 1 der IGC-Weltrangliste, teilt seine ersten Eindrücke von unserem 24,2 m Offene-Klasse-Segelflugzeug und gibt eine unabhängige Einschätzung zu Handling, Leistung und Flugeigenschaften.

🎥 In diesem Video nimmt Uys Jonker Stefan mit auf eine Entdeckungstour rund um die JS5 Rey und erzählt unter anderem die Geschichte hinter dem Solo-Eigenstartsystem.

Dann geht es in die Luft! Vom kraftvollen Eigenstart über Rollraten-Tests und die Erprobung der Bremsklappen bis hin zur Landung nimmt Stefan die JS5 Rey genau unter die Lupe.

Und die vielleicht spannendste Frage: Wie fühlt sich ein Segelflugzeug mit 24,2 m Spannweite in den Händen eines Weltmeisters an?

Ein herzliches Dankeschön an Stefan, dass er seine Erfahrungen und ersten Eindrücke mit uns teilt!

👉 Hier geht’s zum vollständigen Video: https://youtu.be/NEVOtyxR1K8

For the first time I had the chance to test a modern Open Class gli...

12/10/2026

Jonker Sailplanes factory review!

As you know, I was fortunate enough to spend a few weeks in South Africa - one of the main focuses was to check out the Jonker Sailplanes new factory, fly the JS3 & have a great time at their nationals 😀

World class is the answer, seriously impressed. When we spend hundreds of thousands of euros on these new toys, I doubt there's many on the planet that don't want a Ferrari like experience.

This is what the new factory felt like to me. It's has an immediate impression, big, professional & gives a sense of excitement, what is inside? Nice enough gardens that you could hold a special event there, even a cafe for you to enjoy!

The factory floor is well thought out & is impressive to our soaring eyes. Each section has its own dedicated workers, which becomes that workers speciality. Many I spoke with had been there for over 5yrs, many there since the very beginning - so their internal experience & expertise is growing & growing by the year.

Each section will have a component for 5 days, before it moves on to the next. From what I could see, there are jiggs & speciality tooling for just about everything - what does this mean? Accuracy in the build, which is important to me because the gliders they produce, should fly & perform like the modelling.

I put JS on the spot for a wing profile check on a random glider, they gladly bought them out & I was quietly impressed. Later I saw their new finish standard, a glider which was about to leave the factory - it was under lights so any blemish could be seen before they put the final ceramic coating on it! The owner of this particular glider will be happy 😊

The JS team mean business, if you decide to put your trust in them to buy a new glider today, I'm confident that you'll be a happy with the latest products & specs - before taking delivery or if you're interested in buying, I highly recommend you come inspect & visit, to enjoy the Ferrari like experience 🙏

Huge thanks to Todd Clarke, the Australian agent, Uys Jonker & AP for their time to organise & show me around 😎

07/10/2026

TWO BROTHERS. ONE VISION.

25 years ago, Attie and Uys Jonker shared a dream: To build the most sought-after sailplanes in the world.

At the opening of the new Jonker Sailplanes production facility, Prof. Attie Jonker reflects on that journey -— and what comes next.

The goal was achieved.
The pursuit continues.

The Pursuit of Performance.



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ZWEI BRÜDER. EINE VISION.

Vor 25 Jahren teilten Attie und Uys Jonker einen Traum: Die begehrtesten Segelflugzeuge der Welt zu bauen.

Zur Eröffnung der neuen Produktionsstätte von Jonker Sailplanes blickt Prof. Attie Jonker auf diesen außergewöhnlichen Weg zurück – und auf das, was noch vor ihnen liegt.

Das Ziel wurde erreicht.
Das Streben geht weiter.

The Pursuit of Performance.

03/10/2026

Great things happen when strong partners work together.
Proud to have LXNAV technology on board our JS2, JS3 and JS5 engine displays — bringing their avionics expertise into our cockpits.

Strong partnership. Smart technology. Built to fly.

Developed by LXNAV. Built for the JS2.

Our expertise. Part of your flight.

30/09/2026

HOW JS CHANGED GLIDING | Pilot Interview on the JS5, Wing Loading & the Future of Glider Manufacturing.

We sat down with Stefan Langer - World's No. 1 IGC Ranked Pilot, to talk about how Jonker Sailplanes changed modern gliding. With the JS5 open class glider right behind us, the conversation turned to the German manufacturers, why every sailplane is still built largely by hand, and where glider manufacturing is heading next.

🎥 Watch the full interview



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WIE JS DEN SEGELFLUG VERÄNDERT HAT | Interview über die JS5, Flächenbelastung & die Zukunft des Segelflugzeugbaus.

Wir haben mit Stefan Langer gesprochen, der Nr. 1 der IGC-Weltrangliste, darüber, wie Jonker Sailplanes den modernen Segelflug verändert hat. Mit der JS5 der Offenen Klasse direkt hinter uns ging es auch um die deutschen Hersteller, warum jedes Segelflugzeug noch immer größtenteils von Hand gebaut wird und wohin sich der Segelflugzeugbau entwickelt.

🎥 Jetzt das ganze Interview ansehen

23/09/2026

From a dream on the ground to a world-class sailplane in the sky 🛩️🇿🇦

Niels Sundberg (Founder of Sun-Air of Scandinavia) saw something special in Africa - The beauty. The freedom. The extraordinary conditions for gliding.

And when two brothers had a dream, he believed in it before their first creation, the JS1, had even taken its first flight.



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Vom Traum am Boden zum Weltklasse-Segelflugzeug am Himmel 🛩️🇿🇦

Niels Sundberg (Gründer von Sun-Air of Scandinavia) sah etwas Besonderes in Afrika – die Schönheit. Die Freiheit. Die außergewöhnlichen Bedingungen für den Segelflug.

Und als zwei Brüder einen Traum hatten, glaubte er daran, noch bevor ihre erste Entwicklung, die JS1, überhaupt ihren ersten Flug absolviert hatte.