Engineering:Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-8

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Short description: Single-seat German glider, 2003
Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-8
AK-8b nach Erstflug.jpg
the AK-8
Role Standard-class glider
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Akaflieg Karlsruhe
First flight August 2003[1]
Number built 1

The AK-8 is a single-seat FAI-Standard Class sailplane, designed and built in Germany by members of Akaflieg Karlsruhe which can be distinguished by its elliptical leading edge.

Design and development

The AK-8 rolling for take-off at Aalen-Elchingen

Made of synthetic materials, such as aramid fibre, carbon fibre and glass-fibre with cast aluminium alloy ribs, the AK-8 wing features an elliptical leading edge. The fuselage is derived from that of the DG-600M.

The first flight of the AK-8 took place in 2003, but a field landing accident caused severe damage to the left wing. After the left wing was rebuilt, the AK-8 flew again in 2009. In 2014 new outer wings with winglets were built to improve the flying characteristic.[2]

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Length: 6.82 m (22 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 9.75 m2 (104.9 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 232.8 kg (513 lb)
  • Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)

Performance

See also

References

  1. AK-8 Erstflug bei akaflieg-karlsruhe.de
  2. "AK-8" (in German). 11 June 2015. http://akaflieg-karlsruhe.de/project/ak-8/. Retrieved 21 September 2016. 

Bibliography

  • Jansen, Andre (2014). "kaflieg Karlsruhe AK-8: Im Zeichen der Ellipse" (in German). Aerokurier. ISSN 0341-1281. 

External links

  • Akaflieg Karlsruhe (in German)