4 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Asw22marlet: Asw22pilot· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. Schleicher ASW 22 D-7122 F197-10-an: Uli Elch· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3. Schleicher ASW 22 D-7122 F197-9-an: Uli Elch· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 4. Asw22 modell: Webwings74· CC BY-SA 3.0
what is it?
The ASW 22 is an Open Class glider built by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co which first flew in 1981. The 'W' in the designation indicates that this is a product of the German designer Gerhard Waibel. An ASW 22 broke the world 750 km triangle speed record in 1985 and ASW 22s have won first place in six World Gliding Championships.
base stats
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 45 years ago, in 1981.
- Wingspan of 26.6 m: about 6 cars parked nose to tail.
no engine: No engine: it glides on rising air.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1981-07-08
- number built
- 87
- role
- open-class sailplane
- origin
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- makers
- Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co
- engines
- none (glider)
- crew
- 1
- length
- 8.1 m
- wingspan
- 26.6 m
- height
- 1.7 m
- max take-off weight
- 850 kg
- top speed
- —
- range
- —
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q2238720, Wikipedia: Schleicher ASW 22 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.