#1698

Schleicher K 8

🇩🇪 Germany ·first flew 1957· sailplane

3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Schleicher K 8b D-5727: K8bHK· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. PH-311 Schleicher K 8 B (7344620262): happy days photos and art· CC BY 2.0
3. Schleicher K 8b de-rigged: El Grafo· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The Schleicher K 8 (also known as Ka-8) is a single-seat glider designed by Rudolf Kaiser and built by the Alexander Schleicher company in Germany.

base stats

size 310 kgmax take-off weight
built 1,100made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

First flew 69 years ago, in 1957.
Wingspan of 15 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.

no engine: No engine: it glides on rising air.

spec sheet

first flight: 1957
number built: 1,100
role: sailplane
origin: 🇩🇪 Germany
makers: Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co
engines: none (glider)
crew: 1
length: 7 m
wingspan: 15 m
max take-off weight: 310 kg
top speed: —
range: —

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q1666190, Wikipedia: Schleicher K 8 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.