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

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Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
Single-seat club training glider
All-wood construction with fabric covering

A high-wing single-seat glider with a short stubby fuselage, straight wooden wings, and a simple skid undercarriage; the rounded nose and high-set wing are characteristic.

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

The K 8B is the definitive version with minor aerodynamic refinements; both the K 8 and K 8B remain in widespread use at gliding clubs worldwide.

Where you'll see it

Used extensively by gliding clubs across Europe, North America, and Australia for primary solo soaring training; many remain airworthy decades after construction.

Related aircraft

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