Schleicher ASK 18

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co · Germany · first flew 1974 · glider

The Schleicher ASK 18 is a German single-seat fibreglass training sailplane designed for basic and intermediate glider instruction, combining docile handling with sufficient performance to allow cross-country soaring once basic skills are mastered.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	7 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
Single-seat training glider with a high aspect ratio straight wing
GRP (fibreglass) construction with a simple tandem cockpit

A simple, mid-wing fibreglass sailplane with a straight high-aspect-ratio wing, a rounded fuselage, and conventional tail; somewhat dated in appearance compared to modern gliders but with clean, purposeful lines.

Specifications

The Schleicher ASK 18 has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
It has a wingspan of 16 m (52 ft).
Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

Introduced in 1974 by Alexander Schleicher, the ASK 18 filled the role of a simple, robust training glider suitable for club use. It was designed as a successor to earlier wooden training sailplanes and its GRP construction reduced maintenance requirements. Production continued through the 1970s and 1980s and many examples remain in active club service.

Variants

No significant variants; the ASK 18 is a single type. The Schleicher ASK 13 two-seat trainer is often used alongside it in club training programmes.

Where you'll see it

Widely used by gliding clubs in Germany, the UK, and across Europe as a standard solo training sailplane; many examples continue to fly in club ownership today.

Related aircraft

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