Description
The Schleicher Ka-6e
A single-seat glider designed by Rudolf Kaiser, 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 Variants
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)
Specifications (Ka 6E)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 6.66 m (21 ft 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 ft2)
Aspect ratio: 18.1
Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb)
Gross weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
Maximum glide ratio: 32:1 at 80 km/h (50 mph)
Rate of sink: 0.65 m/s (128 ft/min)
