In 1935, Hans Jacobs was asked by Alexander Lippisch to become chief designer of sailplanes at DFS (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt Für Segelflug) at Darmstadt, after the closure the RRG (Rhön-Rossitten Gesellschaft) at the Wasserkuppe in 1933.

Airbrakes are centrally placed on the upper centre section surface and fabric-covered ailerons fill the trailing edges of the outer panels.

[1][2] The canopy is multi-framed with a rather upright windscreen; the fixed glazing extends rearwards to mid wing and the forward section, including the screen, instruments and a small surrounding portion of the fuselage, hinges to starboard for access.

The Rhönsperber has no landing wheel, only a curved main skid reaching from the nose to behind mid-chord, and an integral, pronounced tail bumper.

The following year Peter Riedel gave demonstrations of glider aerobatics at the Winter Olympics, taking off and landing on ice.

[1] Hanna Reitsch also put a Rhönsperber through some vigorous aerobatics, reaching 385 km/h (240 mph) in a dive and losing 1,920 m (6,300 ft) in a forty-two turn, 165 second spin.

[6][citation needed] It is based at the London Gliding Club, Dunstable, and is regularly flown on vintage glider days.