Photograph:
Schleicher ASK 14 VH-GYP (c/n 14-037) at Watts Bridge, QLD in August 2010 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Germany
Description:
Single-seat self-launched sailplane
Power Plant:
One 19 kw (26 hp) Hirth F10 K19 four-cylinder, two-stroke, 570 cc engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 14.3 m (46 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 12.68 m² (136.5 sq ft)
- Max speed: 140 km/h (87 mph)
- Cruising speed: 110 km/h (68 mph)
- Wing loading: 28.6 kg/m² (5.9 lb/sq ft)
- Rate of sink at 72 km/h (45 mph): 45 m/min (148 ft/min)
- Max glide ratio at 81 km/h (50 mph): 29:1
- Empty weight: 245 kg (540 lb)
- Payload: 115 kg (254 lb)
- Loaded weight: 360 kg (794 lb)
History:
The ASK 14 was one of a series of gliders designed by Rudolf Kaiser and built by Alexander Schleicher in Poppenhausen in Germany, the prototype (D-KAIS) flying for the first time in 1967. It was a low-wing single-seat powered variant of the Ka-6E glider with a two-cycle, two-cylinder Hirth engine driving a fully feathering Hoffman propeller. It had a retractable single-wheel undercarriage and was fitted with spoilers. It achieved a number of places in the first International Motorglider competition at Burg Feuerstein in Germany in 1970. A total of 66 examples was completed.
Construction was of wood and spruce, with fabric covering, the wing having a laminar profile and an all moving tail. The wing was fitted with brake spoilers in lieu of the usual Schempp-Hirth air brakes. As compared to the K 12 it had a new monocoque construction fuselage with a bubble canopy to take the engine. Under power it climbed at 95 km/h (59 mph) and had a sink rate of 72 km/h (45 mph). Production ceased with the advent of fibreglass technology which permitted ease of construction and superior performance.
At least two examples have been registered in Australia: VH-GXU (c/n 14-020) first registered on 17 October 1969 and based at St George, QLD, and VH-GYP (c/n 14-037) first registered on 30 December 1970 and based at Caboolture, QLD.