Summary
The Schleicher Ka 6 is a single-seat glider designed by Rudolf Kaiser,[1] built by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co, Germany and is constructed of spruce and plywood with fabric covering. The design initially featured a conventional tailplane and elevator which was later replaced by an all-moving tailplane in the -Pe and Ka 6E variants. Variants built before the -CR and -BR used a main skid as the principal undercarriage, with later variants including the Ka 6E using a wheel as the main undercarriage with no nose skid. Other modifications for the Ka 6E include a more aerodynamic fuselage with glassfibre nose and wingroot fairings, longer canopy, and modified aluminium airbrakes.
| Ka 6 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ka 6 on display in the Deutsches Museum, Munich | |
| Role | Club class glider |
| Manufacturer | Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co |
| Designer | Rudolf Kaiser |
| First flight | 1955 |
| Number built | > 1000 (all variants) |
Variants edit
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Ka 6E with open cockpit |
Dates of initial airworthiness approval in brackets:
- Ka 6 – Initial version; span 14.4 m (47 ft 3 in), (30 October 1956).
- Ka 6B (27 September 1957).
- Ka 6B-Pe – The Ka 6B with all-flying tailplane, (20 May 1960).
- Ka 6BR – The Ka 6B with the main skid removed and a relocated mainwheel, (27 September 1957).
- Ka 6CR – The Ka 6C with the main skid removed and a relocated mainwheel, (24 February 1959).
- Ka 6CR-Pe – The Ka 6CR with all-flying tailplane, (20 May 1960).
- Ka 6E The ultimate Ka-6, with all-flying tailplane, (29 July 1965).
Aircraft on display edit
- US Southwest Soaring Museum – Ka 6B-Pe and Ka 6e[2]
Specifications (Ka 6E) edit
Data from [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 6.66 m (21 ft 10.25 in)
- Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 2.5 in)
- Height: 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 12.4 m2 (135.5 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 18.1
- Airfoil: Root: NACA 633-618 Mid: NACA 633-614 (with Wortmann leading edge modification)
- Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
- Gross weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 200 km/h (124 mph, 108 kn)
- Maximum glide ratio: 32:1 at 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Rate of sink: 0.65 m/s (128 ft/min)
See also edit
Related lists
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ Segelflugzeugbau, Alexander Schleicher | (2016-04-26). "K 6 E | ASSegelflug" (in German). Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ US Southwest Soaring Museum (2010). "Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders". Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Coates, 1978. p. 86.
Bibliography edit
- Coates, Andrew, Janes World Sailplanes and Motorgliders. London. Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-354-01119-7
- Macfadyen, Tim. BGA Data sheet for Schleicher Ka-6, BR and CR (Rhönsegler). Leicester. British Gliding Association. 1 July 2003.
External links edit
- British Gliding Association, Ka 6 datasheet
- British Gliding Association, Ka 6E datasheet
- Ka6 Sailplane history and information website