• Source: Schleicher K7

The Schleicher K7 Rhönadler is a West German high-wing, two-seat, glider that was designed by Rudolf Kaiser and produced by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.
Often referred to as the Ka-7 or K-7, the US Federal Aviation Administration type certificate officially designates it as the K7.




Design and development


The K7 was intended as a two-place trainer with good performance, a rare combination in trainers of its time.
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.
After 550 had been built, the K7 was superseded in production by the Schleicher ASK 13.
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.




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.

A K7 was assigned to 2 Wing AAFC and used to train Australian Air Force Cadets 228 Squadron at Bundaberg from 2007 to 2014.




Variants


Ka-2
Early version with a plywood monocoque fuselage
K7
Main production version with a steel tube fuselage.
K7/13
K7 converted to a mid-wing arrangement, plus a single piece canopy, to resemble an AS-K 13




Specifications (K7)



Data from Sailplane Directory, Soaring and FAA Type Certificate 7g3, and The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du MondeGeneral 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 km/h (37 mph, 32 kn)
Never exceed speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn)
Rough air speed max: 130 km/h (81 mph; 70 kn)
Aerotow speed: 130 km/h (81 mph; 70 kn)
Winch launch speed: 100 km/h (62 mph; 54 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

Rubik R-26 Góbé
Scheibe Bergfalke
SZD-9 Bocian

Related lists

List of gliders




Notes






References






External links


Media related to Schleicher K 7 at Wikimedia Commons

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Schleicher K7
• K7
• Hanna Reitsch
• Rudolf Kaiser
• List of civil aircraft
• Australian Air Force Cadets
• Schleicher Rhönadler
• Fargo Air Museum
• List of gliders (S)