Schleicher AS 35 Mi Test Flight – Why an Open Class Glider with Only 20 m?

Open Class gliders often have 24 to 28 metres of wingspan – the new Schleicher AS 35 Mi has only 20. I flew it from the Schleicher factory airfield in Huhnrain to find out how it feels in the air. Take-off with the engine, cockpit and systems, first impressions in a thermal, roll rate, slow flight and stall behaviour, and an approach to Huhnrain. Tobias Mörsel, project manager of the AS 35 Mi, explains why Schleicher chose 20 m for the Open Class and what is planned with 18 m wingtips. The data: 20 m wingspan, aspect ratio 34, up to 62.1 kg/m² wing loading, 730 kg max. take-off weight. Thanks to Alexander Schleicher and Tobias Mörsel for making this flight possible on one of the last good days of the season. Chapters 0:00 Open Class with only 20 m? 0:37 Take-off 1:14 Cockpit & systems 3:00 First impressions in flight 4:32 Roll rate & handling 5:35 Slow flight & stall 6:26 Why 20 m? – Interview with Tobias Mörsel 7:18 Approach & landing at Huhnrain 8:41 18 m wingtips 9:06 Conclusion #gliding #soaring #AS35