Due to its fibreglass construction, the US certification includes the restriction "All external portions of the glider exposed to sunlight must be painted white except of (sic) wing tips, nose of fuselage and rudder.

"[6][7] In March 1987 an improved variant was developed by Dieter Köhler and the subsequent HK36R first flew with a Limbach L2400 engine in October 1989.

When equipped with the larger available engines, particularly the 86 kW (115 hp) Rotax 914 turbocharged powerplant, the aircraft can be used for glider towing.

[9] In 1991, an HK36, flown by Peter Urach in Austria, set an absolute altitude record in its class for a piston engined aircraft of 36,188 ft (11,030 m).

[14][15][16] Data from Sailplane Directory, Soaring and FAA Type Certificate G51EU[2][5][6]General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era