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MID-ATLANTIC SOARING ASSOCIATION
W73 Fairfield, Pennyslvania
a 501 (c)(3) organization
HomeOur Fleet

MASA operates one of the nicest fleets of gliders and tow planes in the United States. Flight training is done using three two seat gliders, while the club also owns two single seat gliders for the further training of post solo students and the enjoyment of the general membership.

Having an outstanding stable of gliders is only part of M-ASA’s success. You need to have a means to launch the gliders. M-ASA does this using three tow planes. Two Piper PA-25 Pawnees do the majority of the glider launches. A Piper PA-18 rounds out the towing fleet by providing the ability to train tow pilots and maintain proficiency.

Gliders

Schleicher ASK 21

M1

M2


M-ASA operates two ASK 21s, N899MA (M1) and N899SA (M2) manufactured by Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co in Germany. These gliders were purchased new from the factory in 2017. M-ASA took delivery over Thanksgiving 2017 and promptly put them into operation that weekend. Their docile handling has made these a favorite of our students and instructors. In addition to regular flight instruction, both gliders have been used to provide cross country training, ridge  and wave training to our students. Thanks to these 2 near-identical gliders M-ASA's volume of training flights has significantly increased . N899SA is equipped with hand operated rudder controls, which make it suitable for training individuals with limited use of their legs.


Specifications
Seats: 2
Length: 27 ft 5 in
Wingspan: 55 ft 9 in
Height: 5 ft 1 in
Wing area: 193.2 ft2
Wing loading: 6.8 lb/ ft2
Aspect ratio: 16:1
Maximum weight: 1,323 lb
Payload: 470 lb
Stall speed: 33 knots
Minimum Sink: 126 ft/min at 36 knots
Best glide: 34:1 at 49 knots
Documents
N899MA - s/n 21945 N899SA - s/n 21946
ASK-21 Flight Manual: 899MA 945
ASK-21 N899MA Spin Training Appendix
ASK-21 Flight Manual: 899SA 946
ASK-21 N899SA Spin Training Appendix
Common Documents
ASK-21 TCDS G47
M-ASA ASK-21 Knowledge Test
ASK 21 page at Alexander Schleicher
Becker AR6201 VHF Transceiver Operation Manual
Trig TT22 Transponder Manual
ClearNav Vario NavDisplay User Manual


Schweizer SGS 2-33A



The SGS 2-33 has been a very popular primary trainer in the US since its introduction in 1967. Schweizer produced 579 2-33s at their Elmira NY factory between 1967 and 1981. 2-33s can be found at almost every US soaring site. There are currently over 250 2-33s registered in the US. M-ASA’s 2-33 is the 152nd built and was purchased new from the factory in 1969. It was completely refurbished in 2009 and is one of the nicest looking and flying 2-33s we know of. It economically provides a rugged, easy to fly trainer for those electing to fly it.

 

Specifications
Seats: 2
Length: 25 ft 9 in
Wingspan: 51 ft 0 in
Height: 9 ft 3 in
Wing area: 219.5 ft2
Wing loading: 4.74 lb/ ft2
Aspect ratio: 11.85:1
Maximum weight: 1,040 lb
Payload: 385 lb
Stall speed: 36 mph
Minimum Sink: 187 ft/min at 43 mph
Best glide: 23:1 at 52 mph
Documents
2-33 Flight Manual
SGS2-33 TCDS
M-ASA SGS 2-33 Knowledge Test
M-ASA SGS 2-33 Checkout
Microair Cheatsheet
Borgelt B40 Manual
Tasman Vario


Grob 102 Club Astir IIIB

G102

The Grob 102 was built by Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau. M-ASA’s “baby Grob” was manufactured in 1983 and has been owned and operated by M-ASA since 2010. The 102 provides an excellent transition glider for the new soaring pilot moving into a single seat glider.

Specifications

Seats: 1
Length: 22 ft 2 in
Wingspan: 49 ft 3 in
Height: 4 ft 2 in
Wing area: 133 ft2
Wing loading: 6.2 lb/ft2
Aspect ratio: 18.2
Length: 22 ft 2 in
Maximum weight: 836 lb
Payload: 250 lb
Stall speed: 32 knots
Minimum Sink: 122 ft/min at 42 knots
Best glide: 38:1 at 56 knots
Documents
Grob-G-102-Flight-Manual
Grob 102 TCDS
M-ASA Grob 102 Knowledge Test
G102 Rigging Checklist
Micro-Air-760 Install & User Manual
Ilec SB-9 Variometer Manual
Ilec SC-7 Variometer Manual
Cambridge L-NAV Manual


Rolladen-Schneider LS-4



According to Glider Review: The LS4 may be the best all-around composite glider ever built. Combining docile handling, excellent climbing, and decent performance on the run, it is still widely sought after by clubs and first-time buyers. In addition to badge and record flying, it is a viable contender in Club Class competitions. Very gentle flight characteristics, especially takeoff/tow and landings. Very large and effective airbrakes combined with a relatively low stall speed make it almost as good as a flapped ship for getting into short fields. On course, the LS4 allows pilots to work even broken thermals and tolerates some inattention to airspeed without completely killing the climb. One can even haul back on the stick to core particularly tight or rough thermals. While it quickly falls away at very high speeds compared to the next generation (Discus/ASW-24 and later), it is hard to beat on weak days where working every scrap of lift is needed. The cockpit is relatively generous, able to handle all but the very tallest/largest pilots.


Specifications
Seats: 1
Length: 22.27 ft
Wingspan: 49.21 ft
Height: 4.31 ft
Wing area: 113.0 ft2
Wing loading: 9.22 lb/ft2
Aspect ratio: 21.4
Maximum weight: 1041 lb
Payload: 242 lb
Stall speed: 35-38 kts
Minimum Sink: 118 ft / min at 43 kts
Best glide: 40.5:1
Documents
LS-4 N30RD Flight Manual
LS-4 2011 05 Maintenance Manual Internal
M-ASA LS-4 Knowledge Test
LS-4 Assembly Checklist
LS-4 ClearNAV QR Card A
LS-4 ClearNav QR Card B
FSG 2T Tranceiver Manual


Tow Planes


Tow Planes

Piper PA-25

 

58L

99Z

The PA-25 Pawnee was originally designed as an agricultural aircraft produced by Piper Aircraft between 1959 and 1981. It remains a widely used aircraft in agricultural spraying and is also used as a tow plane for launching gliders. M-ASA owns two of these work horses. N7799Z was built in 1966 and N8658L left the factory in1969. Over the course of its ownership of these two aircraft, M-ASA has done extensive work on these tow planes to ensure that they are in top working condition. The exterior for 58L was re-covered and repainted in 2014-2015 and in 2019 it was outfitted with ADS-B Out. The engine for 99Z was overhauled in 2018 and it's wing was re-covered in 2019. It will be outfitted with ADS-B Out in 2019-2020.
Specifications
Seats: 1
Engine: Lycoming O-540, 235/250 hp
Length: 24 ft 9 in
Wingspan: 36 ft 2 in
Height: 7 ft 2 in
Wing area: 183 ft²
Wing loading: 15.9 lb/ft²
Empty weight: 1,457 lb
Maximum weight: 2,900 lb
Power/Mass: 0.081 hp/lb
Stall speed: 61 mph
Cruise speed: 114 mph
Documents
Piper Pawnee PA-25 C Owner's Handbook
Piper PA-25 Pawnee TCDS 2A8
M-ASA PA-25 Knowledge Test

Piper PA-18

Super Cab


The Piper PA-18 Super Cub is the classic two-seat, single-engine airplane of yesteryear. Piper introduced the Super Cub in 1949. The PA-18 traces its lineage back through the J-3 Cub to the Taylor E-2 Cub of the 1930s. In close to 40 years of production, over 9,000 were built before production ended in 1981. M-ASA’s Super Cub was built in Lock Haven Pennsylvania in 1979, and was purchased by the club in 1981. Super Cubs are commonly found bush flying, and towing gliders. The Super Cub underwent major upgrade and refurbishment in 2014-2015. In addition to its use for towing, the Super Cub is used to train tow pilots and conducting pilot proficiency checkouts. It will be outfitted with ADS-B Out in 2019-2020.




Specifications
Seats: 2
Engine: Lycoming O-320, 150 hp
Length: 22 ft 7 in
Wingspan: 35 ft 2½ in
Height: 6 ft 8½ in
Wing area: 178.5 ft2
Wing loading: 9.8 lb/ft2
Empty weight: 930 lb
Maximum weight: 1,750 lb
Power/Mass: 0.086 hp/lb
Stall speed: 43 mph
Cruise speed: 115 mph
Documents
Piper PA-18 Flight Manual
Piper PA-18 TCDS
M-ASA PA-18 Knowledge Test
Piper PA-18 Information Manual

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