Schleicher ASH 26 E (c/n 26145, D-KSBS) self-powered glider, static exhibition during open doors event at Aeroklub Broumov, Broumov, August 2024
At the beginning of the 1990s, Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. aviation company developed a new single-seat glider, designated ASH 26. The sailplane, designed by Martin Heide, was intended to fill the gap between two glider types recognized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) – the aircraft of Standard and 15 metre Class, with maximum wingspan of 15 metres, and those belonging to Open Class, with wingspan of 20 metres and more.
In 1993, the ASH 26 performed its maiden flight. The new glider had a wingspan of 18 metres and combined advanced flight characteristics of the Open Class sailplane with compact design. It was a mid-wing aircraft with plain flaps, built of fibre reinforced composites and equipped with retractable main undercarriage and water ballast tanks inside the wings. One of the ASH 26 advantages was the sophisticated construction of its wings, featuring laminar airflow of 95% along the profile underside, thus achieving outstanding high speed flight characteristics.
On request, the ASH 26 may be fitted with 0.45 m high winglets – as the example shown within our Photo of the Week series.
In response to market demand, the new glider was also available as self-launching powered sailplane, designated ASH 26 E. The aircraft was equipped with MidWest AE 50, four-stroke Wankel engine (currently manufactured as Austro Engine AE50R), generating 50 horsepower. And exactly the self-powered variant turned out to be a commercial success, accounting for more than 90% of the sales.
Eventually, gliders with wingspan of 18 metres became so popular that, in 2001, the FAI established new competition class for European and World Championships – the 18 metre Class.
In 2008, Alexander Schleicher introduced into the market a successor for the ASH 26. The new glider was designated ASH 31 and featured redesigned wing structure with extended ailerons. Similar to its predecessor, the ASH 31 was offered in standard and self-launching variants, as well as with wingspan of 18 or 21 metres.
