The ASK 13 is a two-seater glider that was built by German sailplane manufacturer

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 us ...

. It was and still is widely used for basic training of

glider pilots Glider or Gliders 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 ...

Design and development

In 1965

Rudolf Kaiser Rudolf Kaiser (10 September 1922 – 11 September 1991) was a designer of gliders who worked for Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. The designs of Rudolf Kaiser have proven themselves for over 50 years all over the world. His designs for Schleich ...

continued development of the two-seat Ka 2 and

Schleicher Ka 7 The Schleicher K7 Rhönadler is a West German high-wing, two-seat, glider that was designed by Rudolf Kaiser and produced by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Often referred to as the ''Ka-7'' or ''K-7'', the US Federal Aviation Administration ...

by introducing the ASK 13, using a mixture of materials including metal, wood and

fibreglass Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass ( Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass c ...

. It has swept-forward single-spar wings, positioned lower than in the Ka 7, which allows for a large blown canopy providing a good all-round view for both pilots. The 6 degree forward sweep of the wing allows the rear pilot to be seated near the centres of gravity and

lift Lift or LIFT may refer to: Physical devices * Elevator, or lift, a device used for raising and lowering people or goods ** Paternoster lift, a type of lift using a continuous chain of cars which do not stop ** Patient lift, or Hoyer lift, mobile ...

. The glider therefore maintains the same trim whether flown single seated or dual seated. The D-type leading edge torsion box is of

plywood Plywood is a composite material manufactured from thin layers, or "plies", of wood veneer that have been stacked and glued together. It is an engineered wood from the family of manufactured boards, which include plywood, medium-density fibreboa ...

and the whole wing is

fabric Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, and different types of fabric. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is no ...

-covered. There are metal Schempp-Hirth air brakes above and below the wing, and the wooden

ailerons An aileron (French for "little wing" or "fin") is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll (or movement around ...

are fabric-covered. The fuselage is a welded steel tube structure with spruce stringers and fabric-covered overall, except for the nose, which is fibreglass. The tail unit is plywood-covered, except for the rear part of the rudder and elevators, which are fabric-covered, and there is a trim tab in the starboard elevator. Landing gear consists of a non-retractable sprung wheel, mounted aft of the centre of gravity. The original design featured a skid under the nose and tail, although on many K13s these have been replaced with wheels to make handling on hard surfaces easier. It first flew in prototype form in July 1966 and by January 1978 a total of approximately 700 ASK 13s had been built by Schleicher. They are superb training gliders because they stall and spin well but these manoeuvres are easy to recover from. Their construction also gives them great strength and yet they are easily repairable. The aircraft was succeeded by the

ASK 21 The ASK 21 is a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) two-seat glider aircraft with a T-tail. The ASK 21 is designed primarily for beginner instruction, but is also suitable for cross-country flying and aerobatics, aerobatic instruction. Design and d ...

Specifications

References

Schleicher Web SiteSailplane Directory
{{Schleicher 1960s German sailplanes Schleicher aircraft Forward-swept-wing aircraft Mid-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1966

Design and development

Specifications

See also

References