Schleicher Ka-4 Rhönlerche II explained

The Schleicher Ka-4 Rhönlerche II (English: [[Rhön Mountains|Rhön]] [[Lark]]), sometimes called the KA-4 or even K 4, is a West German high-wing, strut-braced, two-seat glider that was designed by Rudolf Kaiser and produced by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.[1] [2] [3]

Design and development

The Rhönlerche II was first flown 7 December 1953.[4] Its design goals were to produce a simple, inexpensive and robust two-seat trainer for school and club use. The design was a success and several hundred were constructed.

The Rhönlerche II is constructed with a welded steel tube fuselage and a wooden wing and tail surfaces, all finished in doped aircraft fabric covering. The 131NaN1 span wing is supported by single lift struts and employs a Goettingen 533 airfoil. The aircraft's landing gear is a fixed monowheel, with a nose skid.[5]

The aircraft was issued a US type certificate on 28 September 1960.

Operational history

The Ka-4 was widely used by clubs and schools in West Germany and also by Canadian military gliding clubs stationed in West Germany, including the Lahr Gliding Club at CFB Lahr. One of these aircraft was later shipped to Canada and operated by the Cold Lake Gliding Club at CFB Cold Lake and in July 2011 was owned by the Gravelbourg Gliding And Soaring Club, Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan.[6]

In July 2011 there were still five Ka-4s on the United States Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registry.[7]

Aircraft on display

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ka-4 Rhonlerche Schleicher . 22 July 2011. Activate Media. 2006.
  2. Said. Bob. 1983 Sailplane Directory. Soaring Magazine. November 1983. USPS 499-920. Soaring Society of America.
  3. Web site: Type Certificate Data Sheet No. 7G6 . 22 July 2011. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. October 1960.
  4. Web site: Ka 4 Rhönlerche II - ASSegelflug. Alexander Schleicher . Segelflugzeugbau. alexander-schleicher.de. 17 January 2019.
  5. Web site: The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage . 22 July 2011. Lednicer . David . 2010.
  6. Web site: Canadian Civil Aircraft Register. 22 July 2011. Transport Canada. Transport Canada. July 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042755/http://wwwapps2.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/ccarcs/aspscripts/en/quicksearch.asp. 18 July 2011.
  7. Web site: Make / Model Inquiry Results. 22 July 2011. Federal Aviation Administration. Federal Aviation Administration. July 2011.
  8. Web site: Collectiestuk . 22 July 2011. Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome. Aviodrome. n.d..
  9. Web site: Sailplanes, Hang Gliders & Motor Gliders. 22 July 2011. US Southwest Soaring Museum . 2010.

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