Over the weekend I’ve been doing some background research into the Neukom Elfe S3 – in particular to find more information for the decals and cockpit for our Elfe. This post summarises the main points that I’ve found, as an effort to bring together key bits of information for further use as we work on our models. Note that Neukom was known for continuously improving/tinkering with his gliders, there are various versions of the S3, the below list also includes the S2/3, bot the x-tail and v-tail versions.
As far as I could find, in total 12 ELFE S3 (including a few S2/3) were registered in Switzerland over the years. Only two of these seems to be registered/flying in Switzerland still. Two were exported to the US and are still registered there. One is in the Transport museum in Lucerne:
- HB-783, ELFE S 3 P, Baujahr 1964, Werknummer 0000: the prototype Elfe crashed on 31 July 1988, killing its pilot and destroying the glider. Official incident report.
- HB-803, ELFE S 2/3 P, Baujahr 1965, Werknummer 4: removed from aircraft registry on 28 April 2017, unclear where the glider is now
- HB-804, ELFE S 2/3 V, Baujahr 1966, Werknummer 8: removed from aircraft registry on 27 April 2023, unclear where the glider is now
- HB-841, ELFE S 3 P, Baujahr 1966, Werknummer 9: removed from the aircraft registry on 23 December 2014, unclear where the glider is now
- HB-842, ELFE S 2/3 P, Baujahr 1966, Werknummer 11: heavily damaged after collision with telephone wire on 13 June 1970, still registered, stationed in Schänis
- HB-843, ELFE S 2/3 P, Baujahr 1966, Werknummer 10: removed from aircraft registry on 27 December 1993, unclear where the glider is now
- HB-844, ELFE S 2/3 P, Baujahr 1966, Werknummer 12: removed from aircraft registry on 6 September 1996 (exported to US, still registered there)
- HB-845, ELFE S 3 P, Baujahr 1967, Werknummer 13: removed from the aircraft registry on 26 September 2022, unclear where the glider is now
- HB-873, ELFE S 3, Baujahr 1966, Werknummer 16: removed from the aircraft registry on 3 March 2003, (exported to US, still registered there)
- HB-902, ELFE S 3 P, Baujahr 1968 Werknummer 18: still registered, stationed in Schmerlat
- HB-903, ELFE S 3 P, Baujahr 1968 Werknummer 17: removed from the aircraft registry on 16 August 2012 following serious damage after outlanding on 4 August 2012. Official incident report (p. 41-42)
- HB-935, ELFE S 3 P, Baujahr 1968 Werknummer 21: removed from the aircraft registry on 21 February 1989, currently on display in the transport museum in Lucerne.
Further resources:
- Swiss TV documentary “Antenne” on Neukom and his Diamant and Elfe gliders from 23 April 1968
- Extensive article on the Elfe gliders in the “Schmerlat Post” newsletter on the website of Segelgruppe Schaffhausen
- Overview of the Neukom gliders on the website of the Oldtimer Segelflug Vereinigung Schweiz
- Information on Neukom gliders on the website of WLM Modellbau
- Excellent presentation from Chocofly’s Dani Aeberli on Neukom, with a focus on his AN66
I’m still looking for good pictures from the cockpit. Below are two screen grabs that I took from the 1968 TV documentary.
Addition 3/3/2025: our club colleague Willy W. obtained a further picture of the “old” cockpit of the HB-902. Apparently it’s been modernised now, and we hope to get a picture of the newer version as well. I’ll be adding pictures below as we receive them.
Addition 12/3/2025: our club colleague Willy W. now also obtained a further picture of the current cockpit of the HB-977. I’ve added the picture below.
