The ASC Spirit, also known as the American Spirit, was a single-seat, mid-wing, T-tail sailplane designed for the FAI Standard Class. First flown in 1992, it featured a 15-meter wingspan and was constructed using a combination of welded steel tubing and carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer materials. The Spirit was marketed as a homebuilt aircraft and gained a following for its combination of performance and affordability.[2]
The ACS Falcon, also known as the American Falcon, is a single-seat, mid-wing, T-tail sailplane designed for the FAI 15-Metre Class. First flown in 1993, it was developed as a racing variant of the Spirit, featuring several enhancements for competitive performance. The Falcon's construction utilizes fiberglass sandwich materials, with a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer spar, and an Aramid-reinforced cockpit built around a welded steel tube frame.
The 15-meter wingspan can be extended to 18 meters with optional wingtip extensions. The aircraft is equipped with full-span trailing edge flaps, adjustable to +15°, +10°, +5°, 0°, and -5°, coupled with top-surface Schempp-Hirth-style airbrakes for glidepath control. The cockpit accommodates pilots up to 76 inches (193 cm) in height and weighing up to 260 pounds (118 kg) with a parachute. The landing gear is a retractable monowheel design.[3]
One of ASC's most notable projects was the development of the Apex, a high-altitude, long-duration research sailplane designed for NASA. The Apex was intended to explore the upper limits of sailplane performance and contribute to atmospheric science research, but ultimately never made it to production.[4]
