Alexander Schleicher ASH 25E

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co · Germany · first flew 1993 · light aircraft

The ASH 25E is a self-launching two-seat open-class glider produced by Alexander Schleicher, featuring a retractable sustainer engine that allows independent take-off and range extension without a tow.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Unpowered sailplane — no engine in glide mode; retractable sustainer in fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine in glide mode; retractable sustainer in fuselage
Two-seat open-class high-performance glider
Very long 26.5 m wingspan

Extremely long, slender mid-wing glider with a T-tail and retractable undercarriage; the fuselage sustainer engine opens via a dorsal hatch behind the cockpit.

Specifications

The Alexander Schleicher ASH 25E has a length of 9.07 m (30 ft).
It has a wingspan of 26.5 m (87 ft).
Its maximum speed is 280 km/h (174 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed as a powered derivative of the ASH 25 two-seater, the ASH 25E adds a retractable piston sustainer engine allowing self-launches; it entered production in the early 1990s and became a benchmark for high-performance two-seat touring motorgliders.

Variants

The base ASH 25 is an unpowered version; the ASH 25E adds a retractable sustainer; the ASH 25M is the self-launching motor glider variant with a more powerful engine for genuine powered flight.

Where you'll see it

Operated worldwide by gliding clubs and private owners in competition and cross-country soaring; the type is common at major international gliding competitions.

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