Schleicher ASK 21

The Schleicher ASK 21 is a two-seat glider produced by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co.

The glider is made out of glass-reinforced plastic. It's designed for beginners.

But it's also used for aerobatics and cross-country flying. 

 Design 
The ASK 21 is designed by Rudolf Kaiser. He made it to replace the old ASK 13. It's still in production to this day.

Something interesting is the T-shape tail that the glider has. Around a 1000 units where build. 

It is the first glass-reinforced plastic glider made by Schleicher. It first flew in February of 1979.

In 2018 a new glider got introduced, the Schleicher ASK 21B.

 Variants 

 ASK 21
 Original glider
 ASK 21 Mi
 Self-launching glider
 Vanguard TX.1
 The ASK-21 acquired by the UK Ministry of Defence for use by the Air Cadet organisations.

 ASK 21B 
Improved version of the original ASK 21. New features: automatic control connections, internal spin ballast, revised canopy, more effective ailerons.

 Specifications (ASK 21) 
General characteristics

 Crew: 2
 Length: 8.35 m (27 ft 5 in)
 Wingspan: 17 m (55 ft 9 in)
 Height: 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
 Wing area: 17.95 m2 (193.2 sq ft)
 Aspect ratio: 16:1
 Airfoil: FX S02-196 / FX 60-126
 Empty weight: 360 kg (794 lb)
 Max takeoff weight: 600 kg (1,323 lb)

Performance

 Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph, 35 kn)
 Never exceed speed: 280 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn) in smooth air

 200 km/h (110 kn) in rough air
 180 km/h (97 kn) on aero-tow
 150 km/h (81 kn) on winch launch

 g limits: +6.5 -4 at 180 km/h (97 kn)
 Maximum glide ratio: 34 at 90 km/h (49 kn)
 Rate of sink: 0.64 m/s (126 ft/min) at 67 km/h (36 kn)
 Wing loading: 33.4 kg/m2 (6.8 lb/sq ft)

Category:German aircraft