Ka-8b Single Seater "CJ"

The 2nd of 2 of these fun gliders we have, N254CJ in Green.
This glider was beautifully restored in 2017.

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K8 ready to soar.

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Just after First flight of restored K8 in 2017.

ka8
K8 in 2017.Click to Enlarge


K8 in 2017.Photo by Chris Ruf, Click to Enlarge


K8 in 2017.Photo by Chris Ruf, Click to Enlarge


K8 in 2017.Photo by Chris Ruf, Click to Enlarge


K8 in 2017.Photo by Chris Ruf, Click to Enlarge


K8 in 2017.Photo by Chris Ruf, Click to Enlarge


click to enlarge


See SES's other Ka-8b

Flight Manual for Ka-8b & C from Alexander Schleicher GmbH


Unofficial Handbook - not all in English may still be useful.

K8 Disassembly & Trailer Instructions.pdf and .doc written for enclosed trailer holding K8 N221L but should have helpful hints for most K8s.

Ka-8 Trailer

Schleicher Ka-8 on Wikipedia

Schleicher Ka-8

Unofficial data from Sailplane Directory

Specifications

  • Span 15.0 m./ 49.2 ft
  • Area 14.18 sq. m. / 153 sq.ft.
  • Aspect ratio 15.9
  • Airfoil Go 533/ 532
  • Empty weight 190 kg. / 418 lb.
  • Payload 120 kg. / 265 lb.
  • Gross weight 310 kg. / 683 lb.
  • Wing loading 21.81 kg. / sq. m. / 4.45 lb. / sq. ft.
  • Structure wood/ fabric wings and tail, steel-tube/ fabric fuselage
Performance
  • L/D max. 27 72 kph / 39 kt / 45 mph
  • Min. sink 0.64 m/s / 2.1 fps / 1.24 kt
  • 60 kph / 32 kt / 37 mph
  •  
Other
  • Country of origin Germany
  • Designer Rudolph Kaiser
  • No. of seats 1
  • No. built over 1,100
  • No. in the U.S. 24

The Ka-8 was derived from the Ka-6 series as a simple single-place sailplane with dive brakes using construction techniques similar to the Ka-7, and simplified for amateur construction from kits. Emphasis was on rugged construction, good climbing ability in thermals and good handling characteristics. 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. Karl Striedeck of the U.S. made a 767.0 km./ 476.6 miles ridge flight in a Ka-8B to win the world out and return in 1968. ATC

Unofficial Handbook - not all in English but may still be useful.

Dartmoor gliding club has some nice links also.

See SES's other Ka-8b

Back to SES homepage

Last modified 01-Dec-2018 by CR