Schleicher ASW 28

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co · Germany · first flew 2000 · glider

The Schleicher ASW 28 is a single-seat 18-metre Club-class glider combining outstanding cross-country performance with docile handling suitable for experienced club pilots. A glide ratio around 46:1 gives it performance close to Open-class types of a generation earlier.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	6.57 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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

Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
18m Club-class glider with T-tail and pronounced upswept winglets
Long, slender wings with sharply reflexed trailing edge

Distinguish from the ASW 27 by the longer 18m span and slightly deeper fuselage. The T-tail and upswept winglets are shared; the greater wingspan and longer wing chord are the key visual clue.

Specifications

The Schleicher ASW 28 has a length of 6.57 m (22 ft).
It has a wingspan of 18 m (59 ft).
Its maximum speed is 270 km/h (168 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

Introduced in 2000, the ASW 28 was designed to fill the gap between the Standard and 18m classes, offering pilots a step up from club two-seaters without the complexity of Open-class equipment. Production continued through the 2000s, with the 28E self-launching variant following.

Variants

The ASW 28-18 is the standard 18m version; the ASW 28E adds an 18 kW electric sustainer for self-launch capability without degrading glide performance.

Where you'll see it

Widely operated by private owners in Germany and across Europe; the ASW 28 is a respected choice for BGA Silver and Gold distance flights and cross-country racing.

Related aircraft

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