After a 22 year dream run the ASH 25 production line has been closed

All good things must come to an end. Sadly, we had to close a chapter in the Schleicher history by calling an end to the ASH 25 production although the aircraft still symbolises the dream of countless pilots and puts a sparkle into the eyes of generations of gliding addicts.

Simple reasons such as space requirements on the production line forced us to take this difficult decision despite of our strong emotional attachment. We need to focus on the future and want the worldwide gliding community to know that our attention is now directed towards the all new ASH 30 Mi.

Viewed realistically it is a normal process when one generation of glider makes room for another. The word “Generation” is fitting given that this glider was in production for 22 years and has put many of its pilots on the podium and into the record books. It has provided countless hours of sheer gliding pleasure and has accompanied many of our employees for many years of their working life.

The ASH 25 has given “Open Class” a new meaning and has ensured that this competition class is still vibrant and very much alive.

No one likes to part with something close to his heart. However, we can all take comfort in the fact that more than 260 of these aircraft are keeping the fascination well and truly alive.

Without doubt, the ASH 25 was a trendsetter. Even though it has undergone many refinements over the years. Extending the wingspan to 26m and adding a “sustainer version” as well as a powerful self launcher were just a few of the customer requests turned into reality - ensuring that the ASH 25 remains a top performer even to this day.
25-design engineer Martin Heide

Let’s put melancholy and nostalgia aside and focus on the next open class generation - the all new ASH 30 Mi.



Many pilots already know that the ASH 25 and the ASW 22 share the same wing. In fact, Martin Heide has incorporated many components of the ASW 22 into the ASH 25 design and hence laid the foundation for the aircraft’s tremendous success. A logically conclusion is that the ASW 22 will share the same fate despite of the fact that Michael Sommer only recently defended his world title successfully in an ASW 22 BLE – something that didn’t make our decision any easier.



Poppenhausen, September 2008