Schleicher Ka 2 Rhönschwalbe

Designed by Rudolf Kaiser, the Ka-2 was an all wooden glider with plywood and aircraft fabric covering. The Ka-2s wings, with marked forward sweep and dihedral are mounted above the fuselage, flanking the rear cockpit. The front cockpit is covered by a one piece plexiglas canopy which opens to the right and the rear cockpit is covered by a canopy incorporating the inner leading edges of the wing, opening rear-wards, held in place by the front canopy when closed.{{cite book|last=Seliger|first=Peter F.|title=Rhön-Adler. 75 Jahre Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau|date=1 January 2003|publisher=R. G. Fischer Verlag|location=Frankfurt a.M.|isbn=3830104375|language=German}}

The undercarriage of the Ka-2 comprises a large rubber-sprung wooden skid under the forward fuselage in front of a non-retractable semi recessed mainwheel, as well as a steel rubber-sprung tail-skid. Conventional controls are fitted with ailerons on each wingtip trailing edge, elevator with anti-balance trim tab behind the tailplane and rudder aft of the fin. Schempp-Hirth airbrakes, at 38% chord and approx ⅓ span, open out above and below the wing to provide approach control.

Performance of the Ka-2 was found to be lower than expected, due to the relatively high wing loading. Schleicher introduced the Ka2b, increasing the wingspan from {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} to {{convert|16|m|ft|abbr=on}}, to improve the efficiency of the wing. Fuselage length was also increased by {{convert|18|cm|in|abbr=on}} to {{convert|8.15|m|ft|abbr=on}} to maintain stability margins in pitch.

Performance of the Ka-2b was improved in weak thermals due to a lower minimum sink speed, allowing tighter thermalling. Cross-country performance was also improved by a higher glide ratio, increasing the chance of reaching the next thermal. The standard competition handicap for the Ka–2 is 74 and the Ka-2b handicap is 78.

File:D5596inUnterwössen.jpg

The Ka-2 and Ka-2b saw extensive use in gliding clubs throughout Germany and Europe and the Ka2b was also used in several record attempts; On 24 January 1959 Dieter Schmitt and Karl Pummer climbed a Ka-2b {{convert|6907|m|ft|abbr=on}} in lee wave lift at Fayence in France for a new German National two-seater record climb. Later the same day flying to {{convert|7700|m|ft|abbr=on}} to set a new German two-seater absolute altitude record.

A Ka2b also set a distance record for two seaters in Germany of {{convert|424.5|km|mi nmi|abbr=on}} in 1964 and again on 28 May 2012 at

{{convert|684|km|mi nmi|abbr=on}}, flown by Uli Schwenk and his 81-year-old father.

;Ka-2: The initial production glider with a {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} span wing and {{convert|7.97|m|ft|abbr=on}} long fuselage.

;Ka-2b:An improved performance version with {{convert|16|m|ft|abbr=on}} span wings and {{convert|8.15|m|ft|abbr=on}} fuselage.

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Sailplanes 1945-1965,{{cite book |last=Simons |first=Martin |title=Sailplanes 1945-1965 |url=https://archive.org/details/sailplanes00simo |url-access=limited |year=2006 |publisher=EQIP Werbung und Verlag |location=Königswinter |isbn=978-3-9807977-4-0 |edition=2nd revised|pages=[https://archive.org/details/sailplanes00simo/page/n82 80]–82}} and The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde{{cite book |last=Shenstone |first=B.S. |title=The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde|year=1958 |publisher=Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue |location=Zurich |pages=82–87 |edition=1st |author2=K.G. Wilkinson |language=English, French, German}}

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|airfoil=Wing root: Göttingen 533 modified 16%, Mid span: Göttingen 533 14%, Wing tip: Göttingen 533 12%

|empty weight kg=254

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• Rough air speed max: {{convert|130|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|0}}
• Aerotow speed: {{convert|130|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|0}}
• Winch launch speed: {{convert|100|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on|0}}

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{{aircontent

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|related=*Schleicher Ka7

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{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Simons |first=Martin |title=Sailplanes 1945-1965 |url=https://archive.org/details/sailplanes00simo |url-access=limited |year=2006 |publisher=EQIP Werbung und Verlag |location=Königswinter |isbn=978-3-9807977-4-0 |edition=2nd revised|pages=[https://archive.org/details/sailplanes00simo/page/n82 80]–82}}
• {{cite book |last=Shenstone |first=B.S. |title=The World's Sailplanes:Die Segelflugzeuge der Welt:Les Planeurs du Monde|year=1958 |publisher=Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) and Schweizer Aero-Revue |location=Zurich |pages=82–87 |edition=1st |author2=K.G. Wilkinson |language=English, French, German}}
• {{cite book|last=Seliger|first=Peter F.|title=Rhön-Adler. 75 Jahre Alexander Schleicher Segelflugzeugbau|date=1 January 2003|publisher=R. G. Fischer Verlag|location=Frankfurt a.M.|isbn=3830104375|language=German}}

{{refend}}

• Richard und Monique Ferrière: Les Planeurs et Motoplaneurs d' Alexander Schleicher 1951–1981. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1988, {{ISBN|3613011905}}.

{{commons category|Schleicher Ka 2}}

• [http://www.j2mcl-planeurs.net/dbj2mcl/planeurs-machines/planeur-fiche_0int.php?code=1230 French gliding website]

{{Schleicher}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schleicher Ka 2 Rhonschwalbe}}

Category:Schleicher aircraft

Category:1950s German sailplanes

Category:High-wing aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1953