Rubik R-18 Kánya
Rubik Ernő · Hungary · first flew 1948 · glider
The Rubik R-18 Kánya (Kite) was a Hungarian two-seat training glider designed by Ernő Rubik — father of the Rubik's Cube inventor — as part of his prolific series of light aircraft and gliders.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- high-wing Hungarian training glider
- simple strut-braced high wing
- side-by-side or tandem two-seat layout
The high-mounted, straight-tapered wing with prominent struts and the simple fabric-covered wooden fuselage are typical of early post-war Central European training gliders. The Kánya's clean lines are slightly more refined than German DFS contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Rubik R-18 Kánya has a length of 7.6 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 145 km/h (90 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Ernő Rubik Sr. was one of Hungary's most productive aircraft designers, creating numerous gliders and light aircraft from the 1930s through the 1950s. The R-18 Kánya of 1948 was a two-seat trainer intended to rebuild Hungarian gliding activity in the immediate post-war period. The design reflected the practical, wood-and-fabric construction methods available in Hungary at the time.
Variants
The Kánya was one of many Rubik glider types; the R-26 Góbé was a later and more widely produced successor used for training across the Eastern Bloc.
Where you'll see it
Used by Hungarian aero clubs and youth aviation organisations in the late 1940s and 1950s for basic glider training.
Related aircraft
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