Schleicher ASW 15

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co · Germany · first flew 1968 · glider

The Schleicher ASW 15 is a single-seat Standard-class competition glider designed by Gerhard Waibel that became one of West Germany's most popular sailplanes of the early 1970s. With a glide ratio around 38:1 it offered genuine cross-country performance at an affordable price.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	Standard-class 15m glider with conventional tail and clean fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
Standard-class 15m glider with conventional tail and clean fuselage
Broad chord at wing root tapering to slim tip

Identify by the slender 15m span, conventional (non-T) tail, and moderately tapered glass-fibre wing with a slightly broader root chord than the later ASW 19.

Specifications

The Schleicher ASW 15 has a length of 6.7 m (22 ft).
It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

First flown in 1968, the ASW 15 was developed as an accessible Standard-class successor to the ASW 12. It was produced in large numbers through the early 1970s and won numerous national championships across Europe. The ASW 15B introduced a redesigned wing section that improved performance slightly.

Variants

The ASW 15B was the main production variant with a revised wing aerofoil; both versions accept water ballast and fit the standard 15m class rules.

Where you'll see it

Hundreds remain airworthy in European club fleets and private ownership; the type is still flown by BGA-affiliated clubs in the UK and is a frequent sight at inter-club competitions.

Related aircraft

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