In article ,
says...
I'm doing some research on the ASW-20 "A" model to see it it's a good
fit for a 250hr glider pilot wanting to expand his experience in cross
country (I've read Dick Johnson's report on it). I've heard it can be
a bit troublesome on takeoffs because of the aft hookup. Also the
stall break is reported to be rather sharp and it has a tendancy to
drop a wing? For experts only?

If you can afford the extra $, the ASW 20 C is a better glider:

-automatic hookup of elevator
-great disk brake
-better stall characteristics
-shock absorbing landing gear
-forward tow hook came on some of them, retrofittable on the rest
-upward hinging instrument panel

And it performs as well as, perhaps slightly better than, the 20 A.

Living in the midwest, I'd like to
know if it can thermal in our routine low-altitude oftem weak lift.

Yes. It was very competitive in it's day, and is still a very good
glider, but doesn't have the high max wing loading the new gliders
have (limited to 9.2 lbs/sq ft).

How does the pilot sit in it (I know, in the seat, but semi-or
fully-reclined?)?

Semi. Find one and sit in it. The ASW 19 is very similar, so you could
try that, too. Very comfortable for most pilots.

Cockpit size? Control hookups (for the "A"
version). What other ships does it compare to? How about assembly,
weight of wing panels, short-field landability (flaps are good,
right?).

Wings on mine weighed about 145 pounds, assembly was easy, and the
short-field landing ability was excellent with the 40 degree landing
flap and good spoilers. Loved the glider, but after 1500 hours, I
decided I wanted motorglider, and got a ASH 26 E, in good part because
it was very much like the 20 C.

It was comparable in performance to the Ventus and other 15M gliders
of it's day, but almost everyone agreed it was much more pleasant to
fly.

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Eric Greenwell
Richland, WA (USA)