The ASH 25 is a two-seater high performance Open Class glider manufactured by Alexander Schleicher from 1986 until September 2008, originally with a 25-metre wingspan. It was superseded in production by the ASH 30.

ASH 25
Role Open Class sailplane
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Schleicher
Designer Martin Heide
First flight 1986
Produced 1986–2004[1]
Number built 266[2]
Developed from Schleicher ASW 22

Design and development edit

In 1984, designer Martin Heide (the 'H' in the type designation) combined the wing of the World Championship winning single-seater Schleicher ASW 22[3] with a fuselage derived from the Akaflieg Stuttgart fs31 which had particularly low drag. The prototype was designated AS 22-2.[4]: 2 [5] The span was increased in later versions to 25.6 or 26 metres with winglets.

A 'turbo' version was also developed, the ASH 25E, followed by the self-launching ASH 25 Mi with a large retractable propeller and a Wankel engine.

Variants edit

ASH 25
A 25m Open class glider, 25.6m or 26m wingspan when fitted with option winglets.
ASH 25E
Self-sustaining version with a 24 hp Rotax 275 engine
ASH 25M
Self-launching version with a 60 hp AE50R engine. Both the ASH 25 and ASH 25E can be converted to the ASH 25M by the manufacturer.
ASH 25 Mi
Self-launching version with a 60 hp IAE50R-AA engine. The ASH 25, ASH 25E and ASH 25M can be converted to the ASH 25Mi by the manufacturer.
ASH 25J
Self-launching version with a jet engine
ASH 25EB
Self-launching version with a Rotax 535C engine, 27m wingspan and one-piece canopy
ASH 25EB/28
Self-launcher with one-piece canopy and 28m wingspan

Specifications (with 25.6 metre wings) edit

Data from Specifications for ASH 25 / ASH 25 Mi[4]: 4 

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 8.97 m (29 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 25.6 m (84 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 16.5 m2 (178 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 39.8
  • Airfoil: root:HQ 17; tip:DU 84-132/V3
  • Empty weight: 478 kg (1,054 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 750 kg (1,653 lb)
  • Water ballast: 120 L (32 US gal; 26 imp gal)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 280 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: ca. 60:1
  • Rate of sink: 0.42 m/s (83 ft/min)

See also edit

Related lists

References edit

  1. ^ "ASH 25 (english)". Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Dipl.-Ing. Martin Heide has retired". Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019. ..was manufactured by Schleicher in a number of versions for almost 20 years, productions was stopped in 2004 with serial number 266
  3. ^ Johnson, Richard (May 1988). "A Flight Test Evaluation of the ASH 25" (PDF). Soaring. New Mexico, US: Soaring Society of America, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2014. ...the single seated ASW-22 from which the ASH-25 was derived.
  4. ^ a b "Specification ASH 25 / ASH 25 Mi (english)" (PDF). Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. July 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  5. ^ "AS 22-2 (english)". Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. Retrieved 27 September 2019.

Further reading edit

  • Simons, Martin (2005). Sailplanes 1965–2000 (2nd revised ed.). Königswinter: EQIP Werbung und Verlag G.m.b.H. ISBN 978-3-9808838-1-8.
  • Thomas, Fred (November 5, 1999). Milgram, Judah (ed.). Fundamentals of sailplane design (3rd ed.). College Park, Maryland: College Park Press. ISBN 978-0966955309.

External links edit