Rudolf Kaiser
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Kaiser was a designer of glider
s 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 Schleichers can be recognised by the K in the ASK designation. The designs that he did on his own account have the designation Ka.
He was born in Coburg, Germany
, and graduated in house construction in 1952. However at the same time he took up gliding. He built a small single seater, the Ka 1 at his home in 1952 to perfect his design skills. (He used it to get his 'Silver C' gliding
badge.) His next glider, the two-seat Ka 2, was created for Alexander Schleicher, the sailplane manufacturer in Poppenhausen
. Rudolf Kaiser also worked for Egon Scheibe designing the Ka 5 "Zugvogel" which was the best performing production sailplane in the world at the time.
To get his Gold C, he again built a sailplane for himself; the Ka 6
. It won the OSTIV prize for the best new design in 1958. After Schleicher put it into production, it became the most popular Standard Class
sailplane, winning two World Gliding Championships
(1960 and 1963). 1368 Ka 6's were built and many are still flying.
Kaiser then designed three more classic gliders:
The K 8 was a single seater with similar characteristics to the two-seaters and so it is still a popular glider for early solo pilots who had trained on Kaiser's two seaters. 1212 K 8 were built.
Further designs followed: the Schleicher ASK 18
single seater and two motorgliders, the ASK 14 and ASK 16. He then designed two glass fibre gliders the two-seat Schleicher ASK 21 trainer, which first flew in 1978, and the single-seat Schleicher ASK 23 which filled the role of the K 8. The ASK 23 first flew in 1983. When the certification process of the ASK 23 was complete Rudolf Kaiser retired at the age of 61.
Glider (sailplane)
A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight...
s who worked for Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co
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....
.
The designs of Rudolf Kaiser have proven themselves for over 50 years all over the world. His designs for Schleichers can be recognised by the K in the ASK designation. The designs that he did on his own account have the designation Ka.
He was born in Coburg, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and graduated in house construction in 1952. However at the same time he took up gliding. He built a small single seater, the Ka 1 at his home in 1952 to perfect his design skills. (He used it to get his 'Silver C' gliding
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
badge.) His next glider, the two-seat Ka 2, was created for Alexander Schleicher, the sailplane manufacturer in Poppenhausen
Poppenhausen
Poppenhausen is a municipality in the district of Schweinfurt in Bavaria, Germany.It consists of the following six localities: Hain, Kronungen, Kützberg, Maibach, Pfersdorf, Poppenhausen....
. Rudolf Kaiser also worked for Egon Scheibe designing the Ka 5 "Zugvogel" which was the best performing production sailplane in the world at the time.
To get his Gold C, he again built a sailplane for himself; the Ka 6
Schleicher Ka 6
-Bibliography:* Coates, Andrew, Janes World Sailplanes and Motorgliders. London. Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0 354 01119 7...
. It won the OSTIV prize for the best new design in 1958. After Schleicher put it into production, it became the most popular Standard Class
Glider Competition Classes
Competition classes in gliding, as in other sports, mainly exist to ensure fairness in competition. However the classes have not been targeted at fostering technological development as in other sports...
sailplane, winning two World Gliding Championships
World Gliding Championships
The World Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission. The dates are not always exactly two years apart, often because the contests are sometimes held in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere....
(1960 and 1963). 1368 Ka 6's were built and many are still flying.
Kaiser then designed three more classic gliders:
- Schleicher K7Schleicher K7|-See also:...
two-seat trainer (550 built) - Schleicher ASK 13Schleicher ASK 13|-References:**...
two-seat trainer (645 built) - Schleicher K 8.
The K 8 was a single seater with similar characteristics to the two-seaters and so it is still a popular glider for early solo pilots who had trained on Kaiser's two seaters. 1212 K 8 were built.
Further designs followed: the Schleicher ASK 18
Schleicher ASK 18
|-References:Gliders and Sailplanes of the World by Michael Hardy Ian Allan Ltd 1982 ISBN 0711011524-External links:*...
single seater and two motorgliders, the ASK 14 and ASK 16. He then designed two glass fibre gliders the two-seat Schleicher ASK 21 trainer, which first flew in 1978, and the single-seat Schleicher ASK 23 which filled the role of the K 8. The ASK 23 first flew in 1983. When the certification process of the ASK 23 was complete Rudolf Kaiser retired at the age of 61.