Schleicher KA-6 ZK-GLX

[pjw4118]

A few pics from last weekend
Jonathon Pote flying GLX, photos taken by Roy Whitby from tug RDW, Derry Belcher pilot
ZK-GLX was built iin 1958, C/W 388 and flown at Wcesskuppe. It now has clocked 4000 hours

[noooby]

My all time favourite glider type to fly. I used to fly EF at Tauranga but I believe it got picked up by a gust at Waharoa and became matchsticks

Nothing better than strapping a K6 onto your back and enjoying the purest flying I've ever had the pleasure of doing.

LX looks like a sweety. Has the big canopy too, which must be a bonus.

[The Red Baron]

EF still appears to be be flying.I would think most K6's have been rebuilt,some many times,over the years.
LX was one of a container load bought out from Germany in the early '80s from memory.

[Dave Homewood]

Cool photos, thanks for posting them.

[planewriting]

Yes indeed EF was rebuilt. It is owned by the Norfolk Aviation Sports Club at Inglewood. In 1978, John Roake of Tauranga,who was the Schleicher agent for NZ, imported 2 Schleicher Ka7s (GLQ and GLV) and 6 Schleicher Ka6 CR and BR variants GLR, GLS, GLT, GLU GLW and GLX. Several of these well used imports are still flying nearly forty years on. They were imported at a time when several pilots and clubs said they wanted good condition cheaper gliders. Such was their demand, John went ahead and sourced them from Germany.

[conman]

Flew a Ka6 once, and it scared me , felt very vulnerable thinking about the state of the wooden spars, it was also one of the ones with the small canopy very cramped, will however climb on a gnats fart.

[planewriting]

Conman, on the basis that so many aircraft (not just gliders) throughout aviation history have had wooden spars, on what basis have you singled out the Ka6? You may be aware that the type served as the world wide standard 15 metre glider in the 1960s. Are you making a "throw away" comment or did you have a real concern about the particular K6 you were flying? If you did have a real concern, did you raise the matter with the owner/operator? I've never had a problem with the construction or maintenance of any of the Ka6 gliders that I have flown.

[conman]

You are probably aware of ZK-GBF clapping wings due to moisture infiltration into the spar, that kind of thing, especially aircraft that are not protected from the elements, spending time in damp trailers, the one I flew (can't remember the rego) was probably fine but did make some strange creaking noises that I wasn't familiar with

[planewriting]

Yes, I am aware of ZK-GBF's accident however just because of an isolated problem with one glider does not mean there is a problem with the type built in prolific number. As I asked above, did you raise your concerns with the owner/operator and if so, what did they say?

[conman]

I figured it was probably just the regular noises that a Ka6 makes just I was unfamiliar with them.

[planewriting]

Fair enough mate. Good to see the registration ZK-GBF has been resurrected eh!

[conman]

Yeah, flies a fair bit faster than a Ka6 mind you !

[planewriting]

Some how, I'm reminded of Morrie Honey's 80th birthday celebration.

[noooby]

The creaking is its way of talking to you Lets you know audibly when you hit the sweet spot in the thermal! You want to hear a K6 or K7 in rotor. LOL. You scare to easily Conal, you're supposed to sit back and enjoy the ride and the fantastic handling!

[conman]

Too used to carbon structures which make their own unique sounds in the rotor !

[thomarse]

I saw GBF clap wings!