Group of Companies

At Jonker Sailplanes, we work with a carefully selected network of international partners, mostly European companies, to ensure that every JS glider meets the highest standards of design, production, certification, and customer support. Together, our premium partners bring German precision, South African innovation, and world-class service to pilots across Europe.

Jonker Sailplanes GmbH (JS GmbH) was established 2019 and serves as the European headquarters and brand hub for Jonker Sailplanes, connecting South African design and production with the European market. The company ensures that pilots and customers across Europe receive the full JS experience — from ordering to after-sales support. JS GmbH manages European orders, inquiries, and customer communication for all JS glider models and works closely with M&D Flugzeugbau GmbH, DG Aviation GmbH, and JSDG Production GmbH to ensure smooth production, certification, maintenance, and spare parts distribution, while also guiding and facilitating maintenance or inspection requests with M&D and DG Aviation.

All sales contracts for JS gliders sold into EUROPE are issued by JS GmbH. Uys Jonker, CEO of Jonker Sailplanes Pty Ltd. and Jonker Sailplanes GmbH, is assisted by Katrin Senne, who serves as Chief Business Officer of JS GmbH. All tasks and contractual matters are closely coordinated with JS South Africa (JS SA) to ensure seamless communication and consistency across development, production, and customer support.

M&D is our key partner in Europe, responsible for certification, production authorisation, and high-quality support for JS aircraft. As an EASA-approved Design Organisation and Type Certificate (TC) holder for the JS-MD Single family (including the JS-MD 1C and the JS-MD 3 “JS-3”), M&D ensures that our aircraft meet the highest European standards of safety and compliance.

All JS aircraft with an EASA Type Certificate are manufactured under M&D’s production authorisation and undergo final quality inspection and handover preparation before delivery within Europe. In addition, M&D serves as our primary service and maintenance partner in northern Germany with a comprehensive stock of JS spare parts.

One of M&D’s most important contributions to the JS family is the EASA certified sustainer jet engine MDTJ-42 – a compact retractable turbine engine developed and produced in-house at M&D. It gives pilots a lightweight, reliable, and efficient sustaining solution.

DG Aviation GmbH, located at the Bruchsal airfield, is our trusted partner for service,maintenance, and spare parts support in southern Germany. The company continues the legacy of DG Flugzeugbau, combining decades of glider expertise with modern service infrastructure.

As an approved maintenance organisation, DG Aviation provides full support for all JS gliders, including models with electric, jet, and combustion propulsion systems. Their workshop and technical team ensure safe operations and quick turnaround times.

JSDG Production GmbH is a joint venture between Jonker Sailplanes GmbH and DG Aviation GmbH, established to develop enhanced manufacturing processes, optimize production costs, and ensure the future production of DG and JS-DG products.

The company is a fully approved Part-21G Production Organisation, certified by the German aviation authority (LBA) on 15 April 2024 .

Based in Bruchsal, southern Germany, JSDG brings together South African innovation and German precision in composite aircraft manufacturing. Mixed teams from Jonker Sailplanes and DG Aviation work side by side, ensuring consistently high production quality, effective knowledge transfer, sustainable capacity — and addressing skilled-labor shortages for the long term.

Solo Aircraft Engines is JS’s trusted engine supplier for both combustion-powered and RES (Rear Electric System) electric-powered JS gliders, each offering self-launch capability. The RES system was developed in close cooperation between JS and Solo engineers, combining expertise to create a reliable, high-performance electric self-launcher. Since June 2023, Solo has been offering the 80400 electric propulsion system, the first EASA-approved system of its kind, setting a benchmark for electric-powered gliders in Europe.

JS works closely with Solo on future product development, including the introduction of the balanced SOLO 2625 O2i NEO engine — a 50-horsepower, two-stroke, twin-cylinder unit designed for vibration-free installation in gliders. This next-generation engine extends service life, significantly reduces vibration-related component damage, and delivers optimized performance and enhanced reliability across JS combustion-powered propulsion systems, beginning with the JS2 and JS5 models.

OnTrack Technologies serves as the primary development subcontractor for Jonker Sailplanes Pty Ltd and Jonker Sailplanes GmbH, playing a pivotal role in the development and innovation of Jonker Sailplanes’ gliders — particularly during the design and prototyping phases. Based in Potchefstroom, South Africa, the company delivers top-tier engineering services encompassing first-principle design, specialist manufacturing, and cutting-edge prototyping, with a strong focus on mechanical engineering design. At the heart of its expertise lies the design and production of lightweight composite structures, predominantly tailored for the aviation industry, underscoring its commitment to advancing innovation and excellence.