The Ka-8 was derived from the Ka-6
and Ka-7 sailplanes as a simple single-seat
trainer. Emphasis was on rugged
construction, good climbing ability in
thermals and good handling
characteristics. The Ka-8 is robust,
having a welded steel-tube fuselage
structure with spruce longerons covered
in fabric, and a fibreglass nose cone.
The wings are of single-spar construction
with a plywood D-box and are covered in
fabric aft of the spar. Schempp-Hirth
airbrakes are fitted on both upper and
lower surfaces of the wings. The tail is
of wooden construction; the control
surfaces are fabric covered.
Since the prototype Ka-8 flew in 1957,
there have been three versions of the
canopy. The orignal Ka-8 had a very small
canopy. The Ka-8B, by far the most
numerous variant, has a substantially
larger canopy while the Ka-8C features a
longer nose, larger main wheel located
ahead to the center of gravity and
deletion of the larger wooden nose skid
resulting in a roomier cockpit. More than
1100 Ka-8s of all versions had been built
when production stopped in 1976.
| Ka-8b
Data |
| Manufacturer |
Alexander
Schleicher |
| First
flight |
November
1957 |
| Wingspan |
15.0
m (49 ft 2½ in) |
| Length |
7.0 m
(22 ft 11½ in) |
| Height |
1.57
m (5 ft 1¾ in) |
| Wing
area |
14.15
m2 (152.3 sq ft) |
| Aspect
ratio |
15.9 |
| Wing
section |
Göttingen
533 (root), 532 (tip) |
| Empty
weight |
190
kg (419 lb) |
| Max
weight |
310
kg (683 lb) |
| Max
wing loading |
21.9
kg/m2 (4.48 lb/sq ft) |
| Vne |
108
kts (200 km/h) |
| Stalling
speed |
29
kts (54 km/h) |
| Min
sink speed |
0.65
m/s (2.1 ft/s) at 32.5 kts (60 km/h) |
| Best
glide ratio |
27:1
at 39.5 kts (73 km/h) |
Credits:
Günther's Vintage
Sailplanes
Southern Eagles Soaring
Club
Leuvense Universitaire
Aero Club
|
