Advanced Soaring Concepts
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founders | Tor Jensen, Dewey Northcutt |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Products | Sailplanes |
Advanced Soaring Concepts (ASC) was an American sailplane manufacturer based in Camarillo, California. Founded in 1991 by Tor Jensen and Dewey Northcutt, the company specialized in designing and producing high-performance gliders, primarily offered in kit form for amateur construction.[1]
History
[edit]Jensen and Northcutt, both experts in composite materials, initially collaborated through their company Norjen Engineering, which undertook various composite fabrication projects, including aerospace components and concept cars.[1] Recognizing a niche in the sailplane market, they established Advanced Soaring Concepts to produce affordable, high-performance gliders. By offering their aircraft in kit form, ASC provided a cost-effective alternative to European-built sailplanes, which were typically sold fully assembled and at higher prices.[1]
Aircraft
[edit]Spirit
[edit]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]
Falcon
[edit]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]
Apex
[edit]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.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Rosenblatt, Susannah (1993-10-19). "Firm Soars to Success With Sale of Gliders". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ Purdy, Don (1998). AeroCrafter: Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook (5th ed.). BAI Communications. ISBN 978-0-9636409-6-3.
- ^ "Advanced Soaring Concepts Falcon". Plane Spotting World. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ "Apex High Altitude Research Aircraft". NASA. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
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