Schleicher ASK 21 D-2155

The ASK-21 is a two-seater glider made of composite material, which is very suitable for ‘training activities and “approach” to gliding.

Robust, stable and safe, the ASK 21 was designed by Rudolf Kaiser as a modern replacement for the popular ASK-13 in order to fill the need for a modern two-seater school glider and bridge the gap between gliders intended for initial pilot training and gliders with good flight performance. The prototype made its first flight in December 1978 and production began in 1979, and even today after more than four decades the model is still in production.

Its efficiency of 34 makes it a decent sailplane, while its top speed of 280 km/h and limiting load factors of +6.5 to -4.0 g allow the glider to fall into category A (aerobatics) and perform an entire aerobatic program consisting of simple figures only.

ACAO owns 6 ASK-21s (including a motorized ASK 21 Mi) and is the main user of the model in Italy. D-2155 is an ASK21 that came to Calcinate from Aeroclub d’Italia in the 1990s, initially registered as I-IVWD; today the “55” is mainly used by Members for their first flying experiences after their patent and for tourist flights.