Rolladen-Schneider LS6 - Variants

Variants

• LS6
• LS6-a - with a new construction for the elevator employing an aramid / corrugated paper sandwich, and a modified ballasting system, namely larger water ballast bags and an optional tank in the vertical fin for center of gravity corrections.
• LS6-b - (1987) introduced a lighter and stronger construction for the wing shells employing a glass, foam and carbon sandwich. A ballast system with independent valves in each wing was offered as an option. The LS6-b and all subsequent versions reverted to the original carbon / aramid elevator.
• LS6-c - major redesign, the most important novelty being the interchangeable wing tips allowing a span extension to 17.5 metres. This longer span required a larger rudder, increasing the overall length by eighteen centimetres. Concurrently, the cockpit was reinforced for increased crash safety and the allowable weight of non-lifting parts was increased. At the same time the control and ballast systems were brought up to a new standard shared with the LS7: fully automatic control hook-ups, a mass-balanced flaperon drive system (previous versions having anti-flutter dampers), airbrake locks relocated in the wings, a trigger-activated trim system in place of the trim wheel, a new ballast system that did away with plumbing inside the fuselage and Mylar seals for all control surfaces.
  • LS6-c18 - reduction in ballast capacity to 100 litres to accommodate the 18 metre wing extensions with winglets and an increase in maximum speed up to 280 km/h.
  • LS6-18w - further convergence with the LS8: winglets for the 15 metre span and stronger spars allowing an increase in ballast capacity to 140 litres.