The Schleicher Ka-4 Rhönlerche II ( en, Rhön Lark), sometimes called the KA-4 or even K 4, is a West German high-wing,

strut-braced In aeronautics, bracing comprises additional structural members which stiffen the functional airframe to give it rigidity and strength under load. Bracing may be applied both internally and externally, and may take the form of strut, which act in ...

, two-seat

glider Glider may refer to: Aircraft and transport Aircraft * Glider (aircraft), heavier-than-air aircraft primarily intended for unpowered flight ** Glider (sailplane), a rigid-winged glider aircraft with an undercarriage, used in the sport of glidin ...

that was designed by Rudolf Kaiser and produced by

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co is a major manufacturer of sailplanes located in Poppenhausen, near Fulda in Germany. It is also the oldest sailplane manufacturer in the world. History The company was founded in 1927 by Alexander Schleicher u ...

Design and development

The Rhönlerche II was first flown 7 December 1953. Its design goals were to produce a simple, inexpensive and robust two-seat trainer for school and club use. The design was a success and several hundred were constructed. Ka4 D-5627 fuselage

The Rhönlerche II is constructed with a welded steel tube fuselage and a wooden wing and tail surfaces, all finished in doped

aircraft fabric covering Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as ar ...

. The span wing is supported by single lift struts and employs a Goettingen 533

airfoil An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is the cross-sectional shape of an object whose motion through a gas is capable of generating significant lift, such as a wing, a sail, or the blades of propeller, rotor, or turbine. ...

. The aircraft's landing gear is a fixed monowheel, with a nose skid. The aircraft was issued a US type certificate on 28 September 1960.

Operational history

The Ka-4 was widely used by clubs and schools in West Germany and also by Canadian military gliding clubs stationed in West Germany, including the Lahr Gliding Club at CFB Lahr. One of these aircraft was later shipped to Canada and operated by the Cold Lake Gliding Club at CFB Cold Lake and in July 2011 was owned by the Gravelbourg Gliding And Soaring Club, Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan. In July 2011 there were still five Ka-4s on the United States Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registry.

Aircraft on display

Aviodrome The Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome (also known simply as Aviodrome) is a large aerospace museum in the Netherlands that has been located on Lelystad Airport since 2003. Previously the museum was located at Schiphol Airport.

- 3 *

Technikmuseum Speyer The Technik Museum Speyer is a technology museum in Speyer (Rhineland-Palatinate), Germany. 208 History The museum was opened in 1991 as a sister museum of the Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim and is run by a registered alliance called "Auto & Te ...

* US Southwest Soaring Museum - 2 * Austrian Aviation Museum

Specifications (Ka-4)

Notes

References

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External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schleicher Ka-4 Rhonlerche II 1950s German sailplanes Schleicher aircraft High-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1953