UNSERE GESCHICHTE

Jonker Sailplanes Pty Ltd. (JS) is a privately owned South African company designing, manufacturing, and maintaining world-class sailplanes from our facility in Potchefstroom. What began as a small team of three engineers and three technicians has grown into a team of 24 engineers and over 110 employees, supported by a strong network of international partners. Our journey took off with the first flight of the JS1 in December 2006, marking the start of a story defined by innovation and a passion for sailplanes. Together, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible — enhancing both sailplane performance and the pilot experience.

The vision of JS is to produce and sell the most sought after sailplanes in the world, by:

• Designing the best product in the world
• Prozesse etabliert und aufrechterhält, die das Konzept der „Null-Fehler-Strategie“ unterstützen
• sicherstellt, dass unsere Mitarbeitenden kompetent und engagiert sind
• ein herausragendes Kundenerlebnis bietet
• unsere Produkte so bepreist, dass sie ein optimales „Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis“ bieten
• die Marke JS international etabliert

The earliest memories of Attie and Uys Jonker are filled with building and flying model airplanes with their father at the local airfield. Fascinated by his craftsmanship, the brothers spent countless hours in his workshop, developing skills and a passion for aviation that would later inspire their own children. Their ambition grew alongside their skills, leading them to experiment with glider designs and restore damaged sailplanes, gaining hands-on experience that would shape their future in aviation.

By the mid-1990s, both brothers had completed engineering degrees at North-West University in Potchefstroom South Africa. Initially following separate paths—Uys at Denel Aviation and Attie as a university lecturer—they reunited in 1999 to pursue their dream of designing their own sailplane. They founded a composite repair workshop to finance their projects, restoring and building gliders while learning aerodynamics, composite techniques, and production processes. Collaborations with industry experts and access to professional facilities allowed them to refine their designs and manufacturing skills.

The first prototype of Jonker Sailplanes’ JS1 took flight on December 12, 2006, with Uys at the controls. Since then, Attie and Uys have competed internationally with their own designs, earning top placements and medals, including a silver at the 2010 World Championships. By the end of 2025, Jonker Sailplanes has proudly sold a total of 470 sailplanes worldwide, combining South African innovation with world-class craftsmanship and leaving a lasting legacy in the global gliding community.