Editing Advanced Soaring Concepts

{{Infobox company
| name = Advanced Soaring Concepts
| logo = 
| type = Private
| industry = [[Aerospace]]
| founded = 1991
| founders = Tor Jensen, Dewey Northcutt
| defunct = 
| location_city = [[Camarillo, California]]
| location_country = United States
| products = [[Glider (sailplane)|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 [[glider (sailplane)|gliders]], primarily offered in [[homebuilt aircraft|kit form]] for amateur construction.<ref name="LATimes1993">{{cite news |last=Rosenblatt |first=Susannah |title=Firm Soars to Success With Sale of Gliders |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-19-fi-47523-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1993-10-19 |access-date=2025-04-16}}</ref>

== History ==

Jensen and Northcutt, both experts in [[composite material|composite materials]], initially collaborated through their company Norjen Engineering, which undertook various composite fabrication projects, including [[aerospace]] components and concept cars.<ref name="LATimes1993" /> 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.<ref name="LATimes1993" />

== Aircraft ==

=== Spirit ===

The '''[[Advanced Soaring Concepts Spirit|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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Purdy |first=Don |title=AeroCrafter: Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook |edition=5th |publisher=BAI Communications |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-9636409-6-3}}</ref>

=== Falcon ===

The '''[[Advanced Soaring Concepts Falcon|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 [[Advanced Soaring Concepts Spirit|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Advanced Soaring Concepts Falcon |url=https://plane.spottingworld.com/Advanced_Soaring_Concepts_Falcon |website=Plane Spotting World |access-date=2025-04-16}}</ref>

=== Apex ===

One of ASC's most notable projects was the development of the '''[[Advanced Soaring Concepts Apex|Apex]]''', a [[high-altitude platform station|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apex High Altitude Research Aircraft |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/history/pastprojects/Apex/index.html |website=NASA |access-date=2025-04-16}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Ventura County, California]]
[[Category:Glider manufacturers]]


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