Schleicher ASH 31

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]
Unit cost	US$200,475[3]

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

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.^[4] The self-launching Mi version is powered by a 41 kW (55 hp) Wankel engine.^[5]

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

• Extended ailerons
• Redesigned wing structure

Variants

ASH 31

Production aircraft with 18-metre or 21-metre wingspan.

ASH 31 Mi

The motor-glider production aircraft with 18-metre or 21-metre wingspan, capable of self launching with an engine and retractable propeller.

Specifications (21-metre)

Data from Schleicher.^[6]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Capacity:
  
  • 115 kg (253 lb) max. pilot weight
  • 140 kg (308 lb) max. water ballast in 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 in fuselage fuel tank
  • 46 l with 2 wing fuel tanks
• Powerplant: 1 × Austro Engine IAE 50R-AA single rotor Wankel engine, 41 kW (55 hp) ^[7]
• 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^[8]
• Wing loading: 53.0 kg/m² (10.9 lb/sq ft) max

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Schempp-Hirth Quintus

Related lists

• List of gliders

Notes

1. Maiden flight of the new ASH 31 Mi 2009.
2. ASH 31 Mi serial number 100 delivered 2013.
3. Eastern Sailplane Catalog ASH 31 Mi 2014.
4. ASH 31 Mi Design Description 2014.
5. ASH 31 Mi Brochure 2011.
6. ASH 31 Mi Technical Data 2014.
7. AE50R Technical Data Sheet 2010.
8. ASH 31 Mi Aerofly

References

• "Colour brochure ASH 31 Mi (german / english)" (PDF). Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
• "ASH 31 Mi Technical Data". Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
• "ASH 31 Mi Design Description". Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
• "Maiden flight of the new ASH 31 Mi". Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. April 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
• "ASH 31 Mi serial number 100 delivered". Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau. November 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
• "Eastern Sailplane Catalog ASH 31 Mi". Eastern Sailplane, Inc. January 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
• "AE50R Technical Data Sheet" (PDF). Austro Engine GmbH. Retrieved 22 July 2014.

External links

• Schleicher website