Schleicher K7
| K7 Rhönadler | |
|---|---|
| 300px | |
| Role | Glider |
| National origin | West Germany |
| Manufacturer | Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co |
| Designer | Rudolf Kaiser |
| Introduction | 1960 |
| Status | Production completed |
| Number built | 550 |
| Developed from | Schleicher Ka-2 |
| Variants | Schleicher ASK 13 |
The Schleicher K7 Rhönadler, aka Ka-7 or K-7, is a West German high-wing, two-seat, glider that was designed by Rudolf Kaiser and produced by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.[1][2]
Often referred to as the Ka-7 or K-7, the US Federal Aviation Administration type certificate officially designates it as the K7.[1][2][3]
Contents
Design and development
The K7 was intended as a two-place trainer with good performance, a rare combination in trainers of its time.[1][2]
The K7 is constructed with a welded steel tube fuselage, covered in doped aircraft fabric covering. The wing is a wooden structure with a doped fabric covering and employs a Goettingen 533 (16%) airfoil at the wing root, transitioning to a Goettingen 533 (14%) section at the wing tip. The wing features powerful dive brakes. The landing gear is a fixed monowheel. The earlier Ka-2 variant has a plywood monocoque fuselage.[1][2][3][4]
After 550 had been built, the K7 was superseded in production by the Schleicher ASK 13.[1][2]
The K7 can be converted into a K7/13 with a conversion kit to lower the wing to the mid-wing position and installation of a one-piece canopy, rendering the aircraft similar to the ASK-13.[1]
Operational history
A K7 was flown to a new world multi-place glider speed record for flight around a 500 km (311 mi) triangle of 84 km/h (52 mph) in 1964 in South Africa.[1][2]
Variants
- Ka-2
- Early version with a plywood monocoque fuselage[1][3]
- K7
- Main production version with a steel tube fuselage.[1][2][3]
- K7/13
- K7 converted to a mid-wing arrangement, plus a single piece canopy, to resemble an AS-K 13[1]
Specifications (K7)
Data from Sailplane Directory, Soaring and FAA Type Certificate 7g3,[1][2][3] The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one passenger
- Length: 8.15 m (26 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 16.0 m (52 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 17.56 m2 (189.0 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 14.6:1
- Airfoil: root: Goettingen 533 (16%), mid: Goettingen 533 (14%), tip: Goettingen 533 (14%)
- Empty weight: 282 kg (622 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 484.5 kg (1,068 lb)
Performance
- Stall speed: 59.3 km/h (37 mph; 32 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 200 km/h (124 mph; 108 kn)
- Rough air speed max: 130 km/h (80.8 mph; 70.2 kn)
- Aerotow speed: 130 km/h (80.8 mph; 70.2 kn)
- Winch launch speed: 100 km/h (62.1 mph; 54.0 kn)
- g limits: +4 -2
- Maximum glide ratio: 26:1 at ~83 km/h (52 mph)
- Rate of sink: 0.70 m/s (138 ft/min) at 67 km/h (42 mph)
- Wing loading: 27.34 kg/m2 (5.60 lb/sq ft)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
Notes
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References
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External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
