Schleicher ASW 27

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co · Germany · first flew 1995 · glider

The Schleicher ASW 27 is a single-seat Standard-class competition glider delivering a glide ratio of approximately 46:1 at 15 metres, making it one of the finest Standard-class sailplanes ever built. Its advanced carbon-composite construction sets a benchmark for the class.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	Upturned winglets and highly polished composite fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
15m Standard-class glider with distinctive T-tail
Upturned winglets and highly polished composite fuselage

Identified by the prominent T-tail, upswept winglets at the 15m wingtips, and the very short, refined fuselage with a reclined pilot position. More angular winglets distinguish it from the LS8.

Specifications

The Schleicher ASW 27 has a length of 6.37 m (21 ft).
It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
Its maximum speed is 285 km/h (177 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

First flown in 1995, the ASW 27 was designed by Michael Greiner to compete at the highest level of Standard-class racing. It quickly accumulated World Championship victories and set multiple world speed records in its class. The ASW 27B followed with refined winglets and minor systems improvements.

Variants

The ASW 27B is the main improved variant; the ASW 27-18 extends the span to 18m with removable outer panels for the 18m class, competing alongside the ASW 28 in that category.

Where you'll see it

Flown by national team pilots and serious club racers throughout Europe; several are on the BGA register and appear at regional and national championships in the UK.

Related aircraft

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