Manufacture of high-performance gliders and motor gliders as well as contract work in carbon fiber and Kevlar processing.
Schempp-Hirth Flugzeug-Vertriebs GmbH
Kirchheim unter Teck (Krebenstr. 25) · Kirchheim unter Teck-Nabern (Teck Airport) · Oerlinghausen (service, from mid-2027)New on Amplifa
About Schempp-Hirth
Schempp-Hirth Flugzeug-Vertriebs GmbH in Kirchheim unter Teck is one of the leading manufacturers of high-performance gliders, with a tradition spanning more than 80 years. Around 100 employees build single-seat and two-seat aircraft largely by hand, which regularly achieve top positions in international championships and record lists. The aircraft are increasingly equipped with innovative engines that allow bridging of bad-weather zones or self-launching. The company has many years of experience in processing carbon fiber and Kevlar/carbon fiber hybrid fabrics; this expertise is also used for contract work on behalf of other companies, including in the automotive and heavy machinery industries. In addition to new production, the offering includes customer service, maintenance, repair and overhaul as well as a spare parts service. The product portfolio includes models such as Arcus, Ventus 3 and Duo Discus. As an approved production organisation (DE.21G.0022) and combined airworthiness organisation (DE.CAO.0102), Schempp-Hirth operates according to EASA requirements. Through sales partners, the company is represented in more than 25 countries; from mid-2027 a service location will be added at Oerlinghausen airfield.
- Site
- Kirchheim unter Teck
- Processes
- Handcrafted construction of high-performance gliders and motor gliders (single-seat and two-seat), Processing of carbon fiber and Kevlar/carbon fiber hybrid fabrics (also contract work for others, Equipping aircraft with engines (installation of innovative engines for bridging, Maintenance, repair and overhaul of gliders and motor gliders, Manufacture of components by hand: joinery, component manufacturing, paint shop, final assembly of, Fuselage shell construction in GFRP shell design with GFRP/foam sandwich and steel tube, Baking/processing of carbon fiber in aircraft structure (wings, horizontal stabilizer), Wood construction/wing construction with load-bearing wood skinning and spar with longitudinal
- Materials
- Carbon fiber, Kevlar/carbon fiber hybrid fabric, Glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP), Carbon fiber (CFRP), Steel (steel tube construction), Wood (load-bearing skinning, spar), Foam (foam core rings, sandwich core), Glass fiber reinforced plastic
- Certificates
- Production organisation approval (EASA), Combined airworthiness organisation, EASA production organisation DE.21G.0022, Combined airworthiness organisation DE.CAO.0102
- Founded
- 1935
- Employees
- ca. 100
- Industries
- Aerospace (glider manufacturing), Automotive industry (contract manufacturing), Heavy machinery industry (contract manufacturing)
- 01
Design and development
- 02
Component manufacturing by hand (joinery, fiber composite construction)
- 03
Shell construction in GFRP/CFRP with sandwich cores
- 04
Paint shop
- 05
Final assembly of the aircraft
- 06
Engine installation
- 07
Customer service, maintenance and spare parts
Materials and Processes
Carbon fiber
Core material of the aircraft structure, e.g. in wings and horizontal stabilizers; also used for contract work for other industries.
Kevlar/carbon fiber hybrid fabric
Hybrid fabrics processed for many years for fuselage and structural components.
Glass fiber reinforced plastic
GFRP shell construction with GFRP/foam sandwich, e.g. for fuselage shells.
Steel tube construction
Steel tube frames in the center fuselage section of the aircraft.
Foam
Foam core rings and sandwich cores as load-bearing structural components.
Wood
Load-bearing plywood skinning and spar in mixed construction of earlier models.
Locations
Kirchheim unter Teck
DEMain location: production and sales
- Lot size
- Single units and small series (aircraft manufacturing)
- Materials
- CFRP, Kevlar hybrid, GFRP, steel, wood
- Joinery
- Component manufacturing
- Paint shop
- Final assembly
Kirchheim unter Teck-Nabern
DECustomer service at Teck Airport
Oerlinghausen
DEService location (regular operation from mid-2027, takeover of LTB-Krane)
Components and Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handcrafted construction of high-performance gliders and motor gliders (single-seat and two-seat)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Carbon fiber, Kevlar/carbon fiber hybrid fabric |
| Processing of carbon fiber and Kevlar/carbon fiber hybrid fabrics (also contract work for othersPlastics | – | – | – | – | Carbon fiber, Kevlar/carbon fiber hybrid fabric |
| Equipping aircraft with engines (installation of innovative engines for bridgingAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Maintenance, repair and overhaul of gliders and motor glidersTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of components by hand: joinery, component manufacturing, paint shop, final assembly ofAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fuselage shell construction in GFRP shell design with GFRP/foam sandwich and steel tubePlastics | – | – | – | – | Glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP), Foam (foam core rings), Steel |
| Baking/processing of carbon fiber in aircraft structure (wings, horizontal stabilizer)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Carbon fiber (CFRP), Glass fiber (GFRP) |
| Wood construction/wing construction with load-bearing wood skinning and spar with longitudinalAssembly | – | – | – | – | Wood, GFRP |
Additional services
Quality and Approvals
Schempp-Hirth is approved as a production organisation (DE.21G.0022) and combined airworthiness organisation (DE.CAO.0102) in accordance with EASA requirements; maintenance is subject to oversight by the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (German Federal Aviation Office).
| Evidence | Kirchheim unter Teck |
|---|---|
| EASA production organisation DE.21G.0022 | |
| Combined airworthiness organisation DE.CAO.0102 |
History
- 1935
Founded as 'Sportflugzeugbau Martin Schempp, Göppingen' on 4 January with four employees
- 1938
Wolf Hirth takes over 50% of the company; relocation to Kirchheim unter Teck; new name Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau
- 1965
Klaus Holighaus joins as development engineer
- 1969
Klaus Holighaus takes over plant management
- 1972
Klaus Holighaus takes over the management
- 1977
Klaus Holighaus becomes sole owner; the company belongs entirely to the Holighaus family
- 1994
Death of Klaus Holighaus on 9 August; Brigitte and Tilo Holighaus take over the company leadership
- 2013
Ralf Holighaus joins the company as managing director
- 2023
Ralf Holighaus leaves the company in February
- 2026
Takeover of the maintenance operation LTB-Krane at Oerlinghausen airfield; service location planned from mid-2027