LS-7

An LS-7 (honest)

The Rolladen-Schneider LS-7 was the successor to the hugely popular and successful LS-4.  By using large amounts of carbon fibre and a cutting edge laminar flow profile, the LS-7 threw away the LS-4 heritage and was aimed 100% at the competition pilot.  Unfortunately it missed owing to the fact that no one realised at the time that the best speed-to-climb was a good 10-15 knots higher than for other gliders.  Winglets were introduced with the WL model, but made very little difference despite what WL owners will tell you.  The LS-7 will still out glide most standard class gliders even today (and surprise the odd flapped glider) and so long as you thermal at 60 knots it climbs well enough too.  It is still one of the best handling gliders ever made.  Unlike the LS-8 which followed on, the LS-7 was only ever made with a fifteen metre wing span, making it a true SIFOW glider and a real gliding bargain if you can find one. 

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For more information see LS-7 flight review