Akaflieg Braunschweig SB-8
Akaflieg Braunschweig · Germany · first flew 1967 · glider
The Akaflieg Braunschweig SB-8 is an experimental single-seat high-performance glider built in Germany in the 1960s. It has a glass-fibre skin over a balsa structure.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.505 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Shoulder-mounted 18 m wing, slightly tapered at the centre and more strongly tapered outboard
- Straight tapered T-tail
- Pointed, slightly drooped nose with a short canopy just ahead of the wings
Look for a glass-fibre glider with a shoulder-mounted wing of 18 m span, a T-tail and a monowheel.
Specifications
- The Akaflieg Braunschweig SB-8 has a length of 7.505 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18 m (59 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Brunswick students had been exploring glass-fibre construction since the SB-6. The first flight was made from Brunswick airport on 25 April 1967.
Variants
Two were built. The first was too flexible and showed wing flutter at high speed, while the second, SB-8 V2, had a stiffened wing and water ballast. The V2 was later given a 22 m wing and became the SB-9 Stratus.
Where you'll see it
It was a student research glider. Its aspect ratio of 23 was the starting point for a series that rose to 36.6 in later designs.
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