Schleicher ASW 19
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| Type designation | ASW 19 |
| Competition class | Standard |
| Number built | 425 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Length | 6.82 m |
| Height | 1.42 m |
| Wingspan | 15.00 m |
| Wing area | 11.0 m² |
| Aspect ratio | 20.4 |
| Wing profile: | Wortmann FX 61-163/ FX 60-126 |
| Empty mass | ca. 250 kg |
| Water ballast | 80kg (ASW 19B: 100kg) |
| Maximum mass | 408kg (ASW 19B: 454kg) |
| Wing loading | ca. 31 - 37 kg/m² (ASW 19B: 41kg/m²) |
| Maximum speed | 250 km/h / 135 knots (ASW 19B: 255km/h / 138knots) |
| Rough air speed | 180 km/h (97 knots) |
| Stall speed | 68 km/h (37 knots) |
| Minimum sink rate | ca. 0.70 m/s (140 fpm) |
| Best glide ratio | 38 |
The ASW 19 is a Standard Class single-seat glider built by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. It is basically an improved version of the ASW 15B, using essentially the same set of wings and an improved fuselage with more refined aerodynamics and a new designed T-tail. It was designed to take advantage of the new Standard Class rules of 1975, which allowed water ballast. The ASW 19 first flew in prototype form on 23 November 1975, and production began in the spring of 1976. An ASW 19 flown by the Dutch pilot Baer Saelen won in the Standard Class at the 1978 World Championships Chateauroux in France. The ASW 19 is known for its pleasant handling and some clubs use it as a training glider.
The very successful 15 metre Class ASW 20 was developed employing a modified ASW 19 fuselage mated to an entirely new wing equipped with curving flaps.
The cantilever laminar flow mid-wings are of glassfibre/foam sandwich construction, with a glassfibre roving main spar and Schempp-Hirth metal air brakes on the upper surface of the wing. Later models received modified brakes with an additional panel due to the somewhat disappointing effectiveness. The wings are held in place with two main pins. Up to 80 kg of water ballast can be carried. The tail unit is also of glassfibre/foam sandwich and the horizontal tailplane has a fixed stabilizer. The fuselage is a glassfibre structure without honeycombs that were used on the ASW 15B and ASW 17. The nose tapers to a point like that of the ASW 17. There is a retractable main wheel with an internal drum brake and a plastic tailskid. The pilot sits in a semi-reclining seat under a large flush-fitting one-piece canopy which hinge at its front end to open upwards. It has a winch hook which is covered by the main wheel doors and an aerotow hook situated approximately one foot from the nose.
With the ASW 19B version the maximum allowed amount of water ballast increased and the take-off weight can be raised to 454kg. Later ASW 19B were delivered with an instrument panel that lifts with the canopy. This feature can be retrofitted to older models.
The ASW 19 Club is a version with a fixed unsprung monowheel and no water ballast carried. Only five where built for the Royal Air Force where they were known as the Valiant TX.1.
A single ASW 19 was fitted with a new wing profile featuring turbulator blow holes at the Technical University of Delft. This ASW 19X showed improved gliding capabilities with a best glide ratio of about 1:41.
It was succeeded by the all-new Schleicher ASW 24.
[edit] Sources
- Schleicher web site
- Geelong Gliding Club web site
- Sailplane Directory
- ASW 19 production list
- Johnson R, A Flight Test Evaluation of the ASW-15, Soaring, August 1977
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