Haase-Kensche-Schmetz HKS-1
Haase-Kensche-Schmetz · Germany · first flew 1953 · glider
The HKS-1 was a German two-seat high-performance sailplane with a 19 m span, designed around 1950 to exploit recent advances in laminar-flow aerofoils.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.25 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Mid-mounted wing of 19 m span with forward sweep to improve visibility from the tandem cockpit
- 100-degree V-tail built like the wings
- No hinged ailerons, flaps or spoilers: a flexible trailing edge controlled the wing by warping
A long-span, wooden, tandem two-seat sailplane with forward-swept mid-set wings and a V-tail.
Specifications
- The Haase-Kensche-Schmetz HKS-1 has a length of 8.25 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19 m (62 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The designers removed hinged control surfaces to preserve laminar flow, using a flexible trailing edge controlled by wing warping instead. The HKS-1 first flew in July 1953 with a 14 per cent thick NACA aerofoil chosen to hold laminar flow over the front half of the wing.
Variants
Two were built. The second was identical apart from a 3-degree reduction in forward sweep, made to compensate for tail heaviness, and a glass-fibre fuselage sheath in place of balsa. The type led to the HKS-3.
Where you'll see it
The two aircraft set several records. With two pilots aboard the wing loading was high for the time, which limited the minimum turn radius in narrow thermals.
Related aircraft
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