Hi There,
Would completely agree with what Jim says. However I would say that if
you are good with wood and want an all wood machine then you could also
get a Ka6CR or Ka6E. These are all wood (give or take the odd metal
bracket). Made by the same people as Ka8s and are much better gliders.
Not to do Ka8s down as I love them and nearly bought one myself a couple
of years ago.
Again, get one that needs a refurbish and do it yourself. It'll get you
used to the "aviation way of doing things".
Ka6s are 15 metre, fuselage is plywood with wood frames and stingers.
Wings, tail plane and fin are all wood. CR is normal tail plane and
elevator, E is an all flying tail and I think a slightly improved wing
section. The E is the higher performance model.
Ka6s were described by a bloke I once met as the nearest thing to
strapping wings on your back and jumping into the air. I agree, lovely
planes, easy to fly and very very good value. One at our club regularly
does 300s.
Again, a classic design, easily re-sellable, there are higher
performance wood designs but not many (the SHK comes to mind but is a
more complex machine with its V tail).
What ever you do good luck. Building a powered craft or a glider is
something I've always wanted to do but never had the time or space.
Robin Birch
Astir CS77
Cirencester UK
In message , Jim Culp
writes
Hello Curt,
The Sailplane Homebuilders Assn of
Soaring Society of America is a natural for you, as
is
Vintage Sailplane Association.
Goto
http://www.sailplanehomebuilders.com
http://www.vintagesailplane.org
http://home.earthlink.net/~raulb/
http://vintagesailplanes.de/Ka8.htm
Harken to what I have to tell you, as follows:
Let me recommend to you a wonderful classic design,
the Schleicher Ka8B.
Get one and keep it flying.
They are superb.
They are resellable. You will not be disappointed.
You may find at least one K8 for sale now on tim mara's
Wingsandwheels.com website,
under used sailplanes for sale.
They appear from time to time advertised in Soaring
magazine and the SSA webite classifieds.
Prices of these sturdy robust yet nimble 15 meter span
classics of great fame and superb flying ability, with
instruments and trailer, range about $5800-$8000 .
Go for it. You can from time to time satisfy your
need and desire to build by maintaining, recovering,
or trailer building.
In the meantime, gain the appreciation of such a fine
glider by flying it. You will find ways to stay busy
on tasks you set for yourself.
Wings and control surfaces are wood, stick and gusset,
with aircraft fabric cover.
The glider is Aircraft Type Certificated. Single seater.
Generally they are licensed Standard Airworthiness
Certificate in US. Most here were factory built in
Germany, tho a few came as kits. Most are ATC STD
Airworthiness. Many clubs used them and many were and
are privately owned.
K8s, they are quite good for flying the FAI Silver
C and Gold C badges without problems. I did my Silver
C in one, and went for badge legs of the Gold C as
well.
Fuselage is robust steel tube, its shape is fabric
covered and it has a fiberglas nose cone;
horizontal tail is wood and fabric
and vertical fin and rudder being wood or wood and
fabric.
They are fixed landing gear with wheel and a nose
skid plus a tail skid. Assembly and disassembly
is easy and quick. These gliders have nose hook and
CG hook. They can be autotowed, winch launched, bungee
launched (assuming you have a suitable launch site),
or aerotowed.
Get one with an enclosed trailer, or build that yourself...ENCLOSE
D TRAILER IS IMPORTANT. You must have that.
This design is one I have flown much and I was involved
in wing recover, stick and gusset reglues inside wing,
and other maintenance. I loved it. The design is
by one of the great glider companies of the world Alexander
Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau.
Truly, I hope you will get one and keep it flying well
I will hope to hear from you on it and your badge
accomplishments with it. Feel free to call me anytime.
Dancing on clouds,
Keep it up!
Jim Culp USA
GatorCity Florida
Std Libelle
--
Robin Birch