Schleicher ASK 13 (K13)
Alexander Schleicher · Germany · first flew 1966 · glider
A classic wood, steel-tube and fabric two-seat training glider from 1966, universally known in Britain simply as the K13.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Boxy fuselage, big framed canopy and a low conventional tailplane |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Fabric-covered wood-and-steel-tube two-seater with a forward-swept shoulder wing
- Boxy fuselage, big framed canopy and a low conventional tailplane
Pick out the fabric-covered, slightly boxy fuselage, the shoulder-mounted wing with visible forward sweep, and the tailplane set low on the fuselage rather than atop the fin. The glassfibre ASK 21 is smoother and T-tailed; the K7 predecessor has wing struts.
Specifications
- The Schleicher ASK 13 (K13) has a length of 8.18 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (tandem).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Rudolf Kaiser developed the ASK 13 from the earlier K7, giving it a roomier tandem cockpit under a large blown canopy and a distinctive forward-swept shoulder wing. It first flew in July 1966 and around 700 were built, becoming the definitive club trainer of the pre-glassfibre era.
Variants
The K13 followed the strut-braced K7 and was itself succeeded by the glassfibre ASK 21. Many airframes have been re-covered and re-instrumented several times over their long club careers, but the basic aircraft changed little in production.
Where you'll see it
For decades the K13 was the aircraft in which almost every British glider pilot learned to fly, and many BGA clubs still operate them alongside ASK 21s for winch-launch training. Its forgiving handling and cheap wooden repairs keep it in daily use at UK sites more than half a century on.
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