Schleicher ASH 31
# Schleicher ASH 31

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. The self-launching Mi version is powered by a 41 kW (55 hp) Wankel engine.

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

* Extended ailerons
* Redesigned wing structure

## Variants

### ASH 31

    Production aircraft with a wingspan of either 18-metres or 21-metres.

### ASH 31 Mi

    Production aircraft with a retractable engine and propeller for self-launching. It can be flown with a wingspan of either 18-metres or 21-metres.

## Specifications (21-metre)

Data from Schleicher.

General characteristics

* Crew: One
* Capacity:
   * 115 kg (254 lb) max. pilot weight
   * 140 kg (310 lb) max. water ballast in the wing
* Length: 7.07 m (23 ft 2 in)
* Wingspan: 21 m (68 ft 11 in) including winglets
* Wing area: 13.2 $m^2$ (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 (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal) in fuselage fuel tank
   * 46 L (10 imp gal; 12 US gal) with 2 wing fuel tanks
* Powerplant: 1 × Austro Engine IAE 50R-AA single rotor Wankel engine, 41 kW (55 hp)
* 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
* Wing loading: 53.0 $kg/m^2$ (10.8 lb/sq ft) max
