Gerhard Waibel (engineer)

Gerhard Waibel (born 3 October 1938) is a designer of gliders who worked for Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co producing many famous designs.

His father Karl Waibel had worked with Wolf Hirth in the 1920s.

In 1962 Gerhard's father arranged a practical course in a steel plant in Sheffield for him and Wolf Lemke.

After much development back in Germany, Waibel flew the D-36 to victory in the Open Class of the German Championships in 1964.

He then designed almost all the racing gliders for Schleichers up to the ASW 28 which first flew in May 2000.