Schleicher ASW 27

ASW 27

Role	15 metre-class sailplane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Schleicher
Designer	Gerhard Waibel
First flight	1995
Number built	237 by 2009

The ASW 27 is a 15 metre Class glider built of modern fibre reinforced composites, which first flew in 1995 and was certified in 1997. The manufacturer of the ASW 27 is Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. The 'W' indicates this is a design of the influential and prolific German designer Gerhard Waibel.

Design and development

The ASW 27 has plain flaps, winglets, a retractable undercarriage and a water ballast system. The structure is a complex composite of carbon, aramid and polyethylene fibre reinforced plastic. This permits a light structure with the strength to carry large amounts of water ballast, thus permitting the widest possible range of wing loadings for weak and strong soaring weather. The strong fuselage was tested for crash protection by dropping one from a crane.

The winglets were standard equipment from the beginning but were later enlarged in the ASW-27B development. The 'B' also has tanks to hold water ballast rather than bags.

The ASW 27 superseded the ASW 20 in the manufacturer's production line. It does not have a version with wing extensions for 18 metres. This was a design decision to pursue an uncompromised 15 metre racer, as "future engine retrofits or later wingspan increases were specifically ruled out".

The introduction of the ASG 29 gave the ASW 27 a stablemate that can compete in the same class, although the 29 is intended to fly primarily with an 18 metre span and can be motorised. Because of the overlap with the ASG 29, production of the ASW27 has now ceased.

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: One
Capacity: 190 kg (418 lb) water ballast
Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in)
Height: 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 9.0 m² (97 ft²)
Aspect ratio: 25
Wing profile: DU 89-134/14, DU 94-086 M4
Empty weight: 245 kg (539 lb)
Gross weight: 500 kg (1,100 lb)

Performance

Maximum speed: 285 km/h (178 mph)
Maximum glide ratio: 48
Rate of sink: 0.58 m/s (102 ft/min)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to ASW 27.

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co
Sailplane Directory
Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Equip, 2004

Schleicher glider types

Wooden construction pre-World War II	Condor Hols der Teufel Poppenhausen Rhönadler Rhönbussard

Wooden construction (Rudolf Kaiser)	Ka 1 Rhönlaus Ka 2 Rhönschwalbe Ka 3 Ka 4 Rhönlerche II Ka 6 Rhönsegler K7 K7/13 K 8 Ka-9 K 10 ASK 13 ASK 14 ASK 16 ASK 18

GRP construction (Rudolf Kaiser)	ASK 21 ASK 23

GRP construction (Gerhard Waibel)	ASW 12 ASW 15 ASW 17 ASW 19 ASW 20 ASW 22 ASW 24 ASW 27 ASW 28

GRP construction (Martin Heide)	ASH 25 ASH 26 ASH 30 ASH 31

GRP construction (Michael Greiner)	ASG 29 ASG 32

Lists relating to aviation

General	Aircraft manufacturers Aircraft engines manufacturers Airlines Defunct airlines Helicopter airlines Airports Aerobatic teams Civil authorities Gliders Museums Navigation and Transport Acts Registration prefixes Rotorcraft manufacturers Timeline

Military	Air forces Experimental Missiles Unmanned Weapons

Accidents / incidents	Commercial airliners by location Fatalities by death toll General aviation Military By registration

Records	Airspeed Altitude Distance Endurance Firsts Large Most-produced aircraft Most-produced rotorcraft

Misc.	List of jet airliners

Schleicher ASW 27

Design and development

Specifications

See also

References