Schleicher ASW-22

• Span 25.00 m./ 82.0 ft
• Area 16.31 sq. m. / 175.6 sq.ft.
• Aspect ratio 38.3
• Airfoil DLR-HQ 17
• Empty weight 450 kg. / 992 lb. (510 kg./ 1,124 lb)
• Payload 300 kg. / 661 lb.
• Water ballast 235 kg / 518 lb
• Gross weight 750 kg. / 1,653 lb.
• Wing loading 45.98 kg. / sq. m. / 9.42 lb. / sq. ft.
• Engine (22BE) (36 kW/ 48 bhp Rotax 505A)
• Structure carbon fiber, glass fiber, Kevlar and resin

The Open Class successor to the Schleicher ASW-17, the ASW-22 first flew in 1981 as a 22 m. ship, of which 39 were produced. Span on the ASW-22B model was increased to 25 m. with a modified inner wing section and flaperons similar to the ASW-20. It uses Horstmann and Quast airfoil technology with underwing pitot tubes to collect high-pressure ram air which then ejected through 860 tiny turbulator holes in the bottom wing skin ahead of the flap and aileron hinge line to delay separation of laminar flow on the lower surface and thereby reduce wing drag. Construction of the four-piece wing is primarily of carbon fiber, while the fuselage and horizontal stabilizer are combinations of fiberglass and Kevlar with some carbon. Approach control is achieved using top surface double segment Schempp-Hirth airbrakes and a tail parachute. The ASW-22 is fitted with a two-wheel retractable udercarriage. Measured flight testing of the 25 m. model by Dick Johnson demonstrated a best L/D of 56:1 at 47 kt. An ASW-22 flown by Hans Werner Grosse of Germany gained the world 750 km speed triangle record in 1985 at 158.41 kph/ 85.53 kt/ 98.43 mph. An ASW-22B won 1^st and 2^nd places in the Open Class at the 1987 World Championships at Benalla, Australa, another came 1^st at the 1991 worlds at Uvalde, TX, and at the 1993 Worlds at Borlange Sweden, two came 1^st and 2 ^nd. The ASW-22BE is a self-launching version with a mast mounted engine. Water ballast is reduced to 120 kg./ 264 lb. Specifications are for the ASW-22B with the –22BE in parenthesis.