Wolf Lemke had the stirring idea. He remembered earlier flight tests with the LS6 and recommended further comparison flights with the LS6 and LS7 models, but under different conditions. He increased the angle of incidence between wing and fuselage for improved thermalling and good take-off handling.

He used the unmodified LS6-c flapped wing and added winglets. This result met our expectation completely.

With over 450 gliders produced the LS8 has become the best sold glider of the last decade and still is a guaranty for top results during competitions.

It is especially important, that the LS8 has also found its way to the clubs and has become very popular there also.
With now four variants available the LS8 will continue this success story into the future. Test it for yourself.

Standard Equipment

 

• automatic control system connectors
• retractable and sprung undercarriage
• C.G. hook, retractable with landing gear
• Nose tow hook
• adjustable rudder pedals
• wheel brake
• Piggott-Hook
• canopy with instruments panel hinged up front
• infinitely adjustable trim system
• oxygen flask receptacle
• radio antenna in vertical tail fin
• standard instrument panel
• side pocket
• double tapered wing in Carbon-sandwich-construction
• 15m winglets in Carbon-construction
• ready to use water ballast system with funnel
• ailerons in Carbon-construction
• upper surface, double height air brakes
• horizontal tail plane in Carbon-sandwich-construction
• elevator in Carbon-Kevlar-construction
• all control surface gaps sealed
• backrest including headrest
• temporary hinge at canopy rear for clean separation during emergency jettison
• total energy connection in vertical fin
• safety harness (multiple point buckle type)
• registration signs
• Cotton canopy cover

 

Optional Equipment

Tail dolly, covers for wings, leather upholstery, every instrument system offered, tail wheel 210x65mm, contest numbers, etc.

 

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LS8-a

 

Top performance with 15 m wing span

Making her debut with victories at the European Championship 1994 and the World Championship 1995 the LS8-a made headlines in the Standard class.

Multiple top places at national and international championships in the Standard and FAI- 15m-class prove the soundness of the concept and the superior performance of the LS8-a to this very day.

All pilots praise the excellent handling qualities and flying characteristics.

With these qualities the LS8-a also secured its place with the flying clubs were it can be used universally from flight instruction to cross-country flying.

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LS8-s

High Performance Sailplane with 15 or 18 m of wing span

By adding the 18 meter tips the well known Standard Class Glider LS8 becomes the LS8-s. Despite the bigger wing span the outstanding flying characteristics of the LS8-a stay the same but now with performance numbers which are comparable to the open class of the seventies.

Although there are no wing flaps the LS8-s has reached best possible results in 18 meter class competitions under weak but also at best possible weather conditions. Obviously the wing section (a derivative of the LS6, as it is well known) is still a match to the most actual airfoil designs. The combination of very easy handling qualities, of having no problems when encountering turbulent conditions, minimum performance loss because of dirty or wet wings means a well proven competition glider which is also suitable for club operations or flying just for the joy of it.

For the LS8-s an increase of the maximum take-off weight from 525 to 575 kg could be done for the 18m version in combination with the shock-absorbing retractable 5"main wheel!

 

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LS8-t

 

High Performance Sailplane with 15 or 18 meters of wing span and self-sustainer

As the popularity of the LS8-s began to increase more and more the question about a self-sustainer version was heard. Being able to get home on a weak day and travel by glider beyond the weather borders becomes reality with a self-sustainer engine. Furthermore the LS8-s with the increased wing span carries the additional weight of the engine installation better than a pure 15m sailplane. So we made the LS8-st with a self-sustainer, the LS8-s "turbo".

The mold lines of the LS8-s were not changed - it was not even required to enlarge the fuselage.

The engine is the Solo 2350 two stroke two cylinder motor which is already well proven as a propulsion for sailplanes. The rigid two blade propeller is produced by Technoflug. With an additional weight of about 40 kg for the engine installation plus 10 kg of fuel there results a climb performance of 1 to 1.5 m/s and a range of 300 km or an endurance of 1 hour

The propulsion system was purposefully made as simple as possible. The engine plus propeller is very easy to install / uninstall.

If a customer should like to install the engine later, he can purchase a only motor-prepared version, too.

 

 

 

 

Technical Data of the LS8

 

15m / 18m

Fuselage Length 6,72 m
Fuselage Width 0,61 m
Fuselage height 0,80 m
Wing Span 15,0 m / 18,0 m
Wing Area 10,5 m 11,4 m
Aspect Ratio 21,4 / 28,4
min. Wing Loading about 32 kg/m2 / ca. 30 kg/m2
max. Wing Loading 50 kg/m2 / 46 kg /m2
LS8-s /st: 50 kg/m2

Empty weight approx. 265 kg / 270 kg

max. Take-off Weight 525 kg
LS8-s / st: 575 kg

max. Cockpit Load 110 kg
best Glide Ratio approx. 43 / 48
minimum Sink Rate approx. 0,59 m/s / 0,51 m/s

for LS8-st only:

engine Solo 2350 ca. 18 hp
Tank Volume 13 l
Climb rate in powered flight  1 -1,5 m/s