Schleicher ASW 15

The ASW-15, designed in 1968 by Gerhard Waibel and built in series by Schleicher, is a glass composite sailplane, with shoulder-mounted wings and all-flying tailplane. The placement of its single tow-release is a compromise between the ideal placement for winching and aerotowing. The later ASW-15B had several improvements, including a tow-release placed on the plane of symmetry, an 11 cm taller rudder, a slightly larger main wheel, and the provision of a 90 litre water ballast system.

Rot due to fungus infestation was found in an early example, leading to an Airworthiness Directive. Starting with serial number 356, balsa wood was abandoned in the construction in favour of synthetic foam.

In 1971 and 1972, the American pilot Karl Striedieck set world out-and-return distance soaring records three times flying an ASW-15, including one flight of 1009.854 kilometers on October 15, 1972.

It was succeeded by the Schleicher ASW 19.

ASW 15B

Aircraft on display

• US Southwest Soaring Museum^[1]

Specifications (ASW 15B)

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Capacity: 90 kg (198 lb) water ballast
• Length: 6.48 m (21 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 11.0 m² (118 ft²)
• Aspect ratio: 20.5
• Wing profile: Wortmann FX 61-163
• Empty weight: 230 kg (506 lb)
• Gross weight: 408 kg (897 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 220 km/h km/h (137 mph)
• Maximum glide ratio: ca. 36.5
• Rate of sink: 0.63 m/s (124 ft/min)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Berkshire Concept 70
• Glasflügel H-301
• Glasflügel Standard Libelle
• Rolladen-Schneider LS1
• Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus

Related lists

• List of gliders

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to ASW 15.

Notes

Bibliography

• ASW-15(B) owners and users website
• Alexander Schleicher website
• Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999
• Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004
• Sailplane Directory