Alexander Schleicher K 8
Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co · Germany · first flew 1957 · glider
The Schleicher K 8 is a classic single-seat training glider produced in West Germany from 1957, widely used across Europe and the world for pilot training and recreational soaring. It is beloved for its benign handling characteristics.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Single-seat club training glider
- All-wood construction with fabric covering
A high-wing single-seater with pine and plywood wings, a welded steel-tube fuselage with glass fibre nose cone, a non-retractable monowheel and a nose skid.
Specifications
- The Alexander Schleicher K 8 has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Rudolf Kaiser and produced by Alexander Schleicher, the K 8 became one of the most successful training sailplanes ever built, with over 1,100 examples manufactured. It provided an important step up for pilots transitioning from two-seat training gliders to solo soaring.
Variants
Three main versions: the original with a very small canopy, the K 8B with a larger one-piece canopy, and the K 8C with a longer nose.
Where you'll see it
Karl Striedieck of the United States flew a K 8B 767 km on a ridge flight in 1968, setting a world out-and-return record.
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- Schleicher ASW 19
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