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Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-5b

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Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-5b
AK-5b landing in Grabenstetten
Role Club-Class glider
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Akaflieg Karlsruhe
First flight May 1996[1]
Number built 1
Developed from Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-5

The Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-5b is a single-seat club class glider designed and built in Germany by members of Akaflieg Karlsruhe.

Design and development

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Poor handling characteristics of the AK5 prompted Akaflieg Karlsruhe to design a successor with improved handling capable of being used as a first single-seater at the Akaflieg Karlsruhe gliding club. During development of the AK-5b it was decided to make changes to the construction by using carbon-fibre, aramid fibres and glass-fibre. As part of the re-design, a new cockpit was designed with new crash-worthy canopy, equipped with a new opening and emergency release mechanisms

Specification (AK-5b)

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Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Wingspan: 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 10.66 m2 (114.7 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 21.11
  • Airfoil: HQ-21/17,5
  • Empty weight: 255 kg (562 lb)
  • Gross weight: 450 kg (992 lb)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 39:1 at 105 km/h (65 mph; 57 kn)
  • Rate of sink: 0.58 m/s (114 ft/min) at 85 km/h (53 mph; 46 kn)
  • Wing loading: 42.2 kg/m2 (8.6 lb/sq ft)

References

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  1. ^ AK-5b bei akaflieg-karlsruhe.de
  2. ^ "Akaflieg Karlsruhe AK-5". All-Aero. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
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