Schleicher ASH 31

The ASH 31 is a single seat Open Class glider which can also be flown in the 18 metre class configuration.

ASH 31
Schleicher ASH 31 Mi during its first flight
Role	Open-class sailplane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Schleicher
Designer	Martin Heide
First flight	21 April 2009[1]
Number built	100 as of 2013[2]

Design and development

The ASH 31 was announced at the end of 2008 by Alexander Schleicher. The glider was developed as a replacement for the ASH 26.^[3] The self-launching Mi version is powered by a 41 kW (55 hp) Wankel engine.^[4]

The improvements over the ASH 26 and ASG 29 are given as:

• Extended ailerons
• Redesigned wing structure

Variants

ASH 31

Production aircraft with a wingspan of either 18-metres or 21-metres.

ASH 31 Mi

Production aircraft with a retractable engine and propeller for self-launching. It can be flown with a wingspan of either 18-metres or 21-metres.

Specifications (21-metre)

Data from Schleicher.^[5]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Capacity:
  
  • 115 kg (254 lb) max. pilot weight
  • 140 kg (310 lb) max. water ballast in the wing
• Length: 7.07 m (23 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 21 m (68 ft 11 in) including winglets
• Wing area: 13.2 m² (142 sq ft)
• Aspect ratio: 33.5
• Empty weight: 430 kg (948 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 700 kg (1,543 lb)
• Fuel capacity:
  
  • 16 L (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal) in fuselage fuel tank
  • 46 L (10 imp gal; 12 US gal) with 2 wing fuel tanks
• Powerplant: 1 × Austro Engine IAE 50R-AA single rotor Wankel engine, 41 kW (55 hp) ^[6]
• Propellers: 2-bladed, 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) diameter (retractable)

Performance

• Rate of climb: 4 m/s (790 ft/min)
• Lift-to-drag: 56^[7]
• Wing loading: 53.0 kg/m² (10.8 lb/sq ft) max

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Jonker JS-1 Revelation (21m version)
• Lange Antares 23E
• Schempp-Hirth Quintus

Related lists

• List of gliders