Schleicher ASK-21

The ASK 21 is a modern glass-reinforced plastic two-seater glider with a mid-set wing and a mass balanced T-tail. The ASK 21 is designed primarily for beginner instruction, but is also suitable for cross-country flying and aerobatic instruction.

History

The ASK 21 was designed by Rudolf Kaiser as a modern counterpart to the popular ASK 13, in order to cover the need for a modern two-seater bridging the gap between initial training and single-seat performance flying. The ASK 21 is the first full GRP two-seater produced by Schleicher. The prototype had its maiden flight in December 1978 and production started in 1979. It remains in production to this day, with over 750 units already built. In December 2004 the ASK-21 Mi, a self-launching version, made its first flight.

Construction

The two seats are a tandem arrangement with duplicate controls, adjustable rudder pedals and seatbacks. The fuselage consists of a tubular sandwich and thus offers passive safety with small component weight. The two-piece, mid-set, monoplane cantilever wing is a monospar glass fiber construction without flaps, but with upper side air brakes. The wingtips curve downward, providing tip skids that allow take-offs without a wing helper. The T-tail possesses a fixed horizontal stabilizer and an elevator with spring trim and automatic connections. The undecarriage consists of two fixed wheels. The main wheel lies behind the centre of gravity and has a hydraulically operated disc brake. Checking the tire pressure is hindered by the need for removing the wheel fairing (which many gliding clubs remove perminantly to aid regular maintenance). The tail unit has a rubber skid or a tailwheel.

Flight characteristics

The thick profile gives good low-speed characteristics (nominal stall speed approximately 65 km/h). The flight characteristics can be said to be extremely good-natured. It is difficult, however not impossible to spin (all aircraft will spin); even in a deep stall remains it entirely controllable. Flown as a single-seater, the ASK-21 climbs in thermals as well as a K 8.

Most glider pilots and students have at one time or another flown the ASK 21.

Clubs Operating

• Balaklava Gliding Club
• Bathurst Soaring Club
• Beverley Soaring Society

Sources

• Wikipedia.org
• Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co
• Johnson R, A Flight Test Evaluation of the ASK 21, Soaring, July 1985
• Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999
• Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004