| ASW 20 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | 15 metre or Sports Class sailplane |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Schleicher Centrair (under licence) |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 905 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1977 |
| First flight | 1977 |
The ASW 20 is an FAI 15 metre Class glider designed by Gerhard Waibel and built by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Its fuselage is nearly identical to that of the ASW 19, mated to newly designed flapped wings for the 15 metre Class. The prototype first flew in 1977. It proved to be a highly successful glider, winning several World Championships, and was still being flown at this level up to 1995. Developments along its production life included winglets, pneumatic turbulators, and wingtip extensions. It remained in production until 1990, when it was superseded by the ASW 27. 765 were built by Schleicher and a further 140 were made under license by Centrair in France.
The ASW 20 was successful in competition, winning numerous world and national championships. Dick Johnson reported that the ASW 20 was the first 15 m glider to demonstrate a measured L/D in excess of 40:1. Roy McMaster, Karl Striedieck and John Seymour won jointly, with others, the world triangle distance record of 1,435 km (892 mi) in 1994 in an ASW 20B. ASW 20s won second and third places in the 15 metre Class at the 1983 World Championships at Hobbs, New Mexico.