Schleicher ASW 15

what is it?

The Schleicher ASW 15 is a single-seat sailplane designed in 1968 by Gerhard Waibel and manufactured by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. The ASW 15 has shoulder-mounted wings and an all-flying tailplane, with its single tow-release placement a compromise between winching and aerotowing. The later ASW 15B had several improvements, including a tow-release placed on the plane of symmetry, an 11 cm taller rudder, a slightly larger main wheel, and the provision of a 90-litre water ballast system.

base stats

• size 408 kgmax take-off weight
• built 453made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 58 years ago, in 1968.
• 🚗Wingspan of 15 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.

no engine: No engine: it glides on rising air.

spec sheet

first flight

1968-04-20

status

still flying

number built

453

role

sailplane

origin

🇩🇪 Germany

makers

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co

engines

none (glider)

crew

1

length

6.5 m

wingspan

15 m

height

1.6 m

max take-off weight

408 kg

top speed

—

range

—

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.