It was designed by Martin Schempp and Wolf Hirth and was produced the year after their first glider, the Göppingen Gö 1.

[1][2] The name is derived from the name Moazagotl given to lenticularis clouds caused by the foehn wind in Sudetenland.

[1] The name was used for one of Hirth's earlier gliders and since the Gö 3 was a smaller version, it was called 'Mini' as a diminutive.

Richard du Pont and Chet Decker flew Minimoas to win the US Championships in 1937 and 1938.

Only five Minimoas remain airworthy: two in Germany, one in Japan, one replica built in the Netherlands and the latest one to fly in the U.K. One more is being prepared for flight in Bacchus Marsh Australia.[when?]