Krähe IV

It was designed by Fritz Raab, who developed a number of simple gliders and motor gliders in the years following the Second World War, including the Doppelraab and the Motorraab. The Krähe first flew in 1957, shortly after powered flight was again permitted in the Federal Republic of Germany. The most widespread problem was that engines proved unreliable when restarted in flight after being switched off for lengthy periods. Inevitably, there was a great deal of trial and error, and the Krähe was fitted with engines from various manufacturers. The aircraft was never commercially manufactured. About 50 are believed to have been produced, all of them home-built. The Krähe exhibited here was flown until 1998.

• Self-construction: Paul Gerold, Wiesloch, 1964
• Wingspan: 12.0 m
• Take-off weight: 340 kg
• Wing load: 24 kg/m²
• Best glide ratio: approx. 20 at 78 km/h
• Minimum sink rate: approx. 1 m/s at 65 km/h
• Best rate of climb: approx. 1.7 m/s (in powered flight)
• Propulsion: air-cooled 4-cylinder boxer engine Hirth F 10
• Power: 19 kW (26 hp) at 5000 min^-1