So which Schleicher is this? I got out my logbook and see 32 flights in the ASK13. Lovely machine for its time.
And it still is one of the best trainers around, with excellent visibility. Which was exactly the reason this WOT-plane was converted from its original configuration. It was built as a Schleicher K7 (the rounded lower trailing edge of the rudder sets it apart from that of an ASK-13) and converted to what is known as the Schleicher K7/13. The wings and fuselage are both original, but the wing mounts were lowered to that resembling an ASK-13 (requiring quite substantial alterations to the mid fuselage section), which allows for the fitment of an ASK-13 single piece canopy replacing the two-piece K7 canopy. Also, the D-nose near the root ribs needed modification. The mod was done in the UK only, I know of just under ten that were done this way. Slightly better performance than the stock K7, lots more visibility, especially for the backseat pilot, and a sprung mainwheel (optional). The resulting aircraft is – oddly enough – officially still registered as a K7, as the conversion is officially a BGA Major Mod only. These ships have been slowly disappearing from the scene, as they’re older and not as well-built as the later ASK-13s. Also values of wooden ships this age have been consistently dropping making repairs, overhauls and general upkeep easily uneconomical.
Still, for getting very close I would say you put up the next WOT.
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