On Sat, 4 Nov 2017 22:55:39 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

The ASW 20 seems to have a reputation for bad behavior in some configurations. Is this reputation deserved or overblown? What has been the experience of those who have owned and flown the glider? Are some variants of the 20 better or worse in terms of handling characteristics?


I've got extensive experience in the ASW-20L and a little in an
ASW-20C.

My club's 20L was ok before it got a refinishing which resultetd in a
slioghtly sharper leading edge of the wing (and significantly
increased performance).
Before the refinishing, it would slightly drop a wing but that wasn't
worse than in any other glider of that time. After that, it could
enter a spin if stalled in flaps 4 and a slightly aft CG if you didn't
catch the dropping wing immediately.

Not visious, but it needed a little attention.

On the other hand, I've also flown a privately owned ASW-20C that was
extremely harmless and could be thermalled at less than 80 kp/h
without the slightest tendency to drop a wing.

In my opinion the flight characteristics of the ASW-20 are mostly
definied by the form of the leading edge of the wing and reports about
bad reputation are grossly overblown. In the 600 hrs I have on the 20
I had no a single unexpected departure.

My club operated the ASW-20L for 15 years where any pilot with more
than 100 hrs total flight time could fly it, and to my knowledge there
was never a serious spin incident. We sold it accident-free.

Disclaimer:
Of the 60+ different glider types I have flown so far, to me the 20
still has best flying characteristics.