Schleicher ASK 21
Alexander Schleicher · Germany · first flew 1979 · glider
The world's standard glassfibre two-seat training glider — a sleek tandem sailplane that first flew in 1979 and is still in production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unpowered sailplane — no engine
- Sleek white glassfibre two-seater with a long single-piece canopy
- Very long slender tapered wings and a high T-tail
Look for a smooth white glassfibre tandem two-seater with a long one-piece canopy, gently tapered 17-metre wings and a T-tail. The wooden K13 it replaced has a strut-free shoulder wing and low-set tailplane; the DG-1000 and Duo Discus are larger-span, more slender high-performance types.
Specifications
- The Schleicher ASK 21 has a length of 8.35 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17 m (56 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 280 km/h (174 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (tandem).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Rudolf Kaiser as Schleicher's first all-glassfibre two-seater, the ASK 21 first flew in February 1979 to replace the wooden ASK 13. Its docile handling, crashworthy cockpit and approval for basic aerobatics made it the definitive club trainer, with well over a thousand built.
Variants
The basic ASK 21 was joined by the ASK 21 Mi, a self-launching version with a retractable engine, and the modernised ASK 21 B with a roomier cockpit. Military and air-cadet operators fly it too — the RAF flew it as the Vanguard TX1.
Where you'll see it
Alongside the K13 it is the standard two-seat trainer at British Gliding Association clubs — you will see one on the winch or aerotow at almost any UK gliding site, from Lasham and Dunstable to ridge and wave sites like the Long Mynd and Portmoak. Most UK glider pilots make their first flight in one.
Related aircraft
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