Pipistrel Apis

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Pipistrel Apis
Apis WR
Type: Ultralight glider
Design country:

SloveniaSlovenia Slovenia

Manufacturer:

Alabastar, AMS, Pipistrel

First flight:

2000

The Pipistrel Apis is a single-seat, self-launching ultralight glider made by the Slovenian manufacturer Pipistrel . The name Apis is derived from the scientific name for the genus of honeybees from. Because this name in some states trademark is protected, the Apis is there under the name Bee ( Engl. Bee ) sold. For this reason, the term Apis / Bee is used collectively in the specialist press .

history

Pavel Potočnik, owner of the Slovenian company Alabastar , was commissioned by Pipistrel to build negative molds and a prototype for the Sinus . At the same time, he was busy processing a similar order from the Italian manufacturer Alisport , from which the Silent emerged . Potočnik combined the fuselage of the Silent with the wings of the Sinus to create the first prototype of the Apis, which was completed in the summer of 2000. The first flight took place in the same year. After the prototype was built, special hull shapes were made for the Apis, which differ from those of the Silent, among other things, in the lack of a nose wheel. Alabastar produced the Apis with both 13 and 15 meter wingspan . The first flight of the 15-meter version was carried out on February 2, 2002 by Boštjan Pristavec at Bled airfield .

At the beginning of 2004 it became known that the production of the Apis had been taken over by AMS Flight , the successor company of Elan . There it was first built in the versions available until then. In addition, with the Apis 15MB, a version with a total rescue system was developed, which received its German type approval on February 16, 2006 under the name Bee 15MB . In January 2008, Pipistrel finally took over the Apis, the last aircraft from AMS Flight's production, a Bee 15MB for the Austrian market, was delivered in April 2008.

Since June 2009 Pipistrel has been selling a second, revised generation of the Apis.

construction

The Apis is an ultralight aircraft with the appearance of a classic glider. The single-seat middle - decker with T-tail has an electrically retractable main landing gear . The wings with flaperons and airbrakes of the Schempp-Hirth type were taken over from the Sinus . The entire construction is in GFK - CFK - shells or - sandwich construction on hold.

Second generation changes

After Pipistrel took over production, the Apis was revised in some points. Instead of the central tank, wing tanks were installed in the fuselage, increasing the capacity to 20 liters. The engine management system, which is responsible for the retraction and extension of the engine, was taken over from the Taurus . This means that the engine can now be extended or retracted in just six seconds. In addition, a fire bulkhead was installed between the cockpit and the engine compartment. The cockpit and the instrument panel have been redesigned to provide more space and improve visibility in the direction of flight, and the rudder adjustment has been improved.

use

The Apis is intended for use as a glider or glider with an auxiliary engine . The version Apis 13 WR FAI was to the FAI - Competition Class designed "ultra-light". In this class, Boštjan and Tanja Pristavec set five world records with an Apis WR between 2000 and 2003 , which are still in place today (2010).

In order to be able to fly the versions Apis 15MB and Apis 15 (Hirth F33BS) , which are approved in Germany , a glider license with take-off authorization "Eigenstart" is not sufficient: Since the Apis was designed as an ultralight aircraft from the start, the German regulations for gliders were not included in its construction considered. It is licensed as an ultralight aircraft in Germany and can therefore only be flown with a sports pilot license .

In the USA , the Apis has been approved as a Light Sport Aircraft since 2010 .

Versions

First generation versions

Before the revision by Pipistrel, the Apis was manufactured in the following versions:

  • Apis 13: Pure glider version of the 13-meter class (Alabastar, AMS)
  • Apis 13 WR FAI: Lighter version of Apis 13 (Alabastar, AMS)
  • Apis 15: Pure glider version of the 15 meter class (Alabastar, AMS)
  • Apis 15M: Self-starting version of Apis 15 (Alabastar, AMS)
  • Apis 15MB: like 15M, but with a total rescue system (AMS, Pipistrel)

Current versions

The Apis is currently (as of 2010) offered by Pipistrel in three 15-meter versions:

  • Apis 15 Pure Glider: Pure glider version
  • Apis 15 (Hirth F33BS): Self- starting version with Hirth F33 BS internal combustion engine
  • Apis 15 electro: self-starting version with electric motor

Technical specifications

Parameter Apis 13 Bee 15MB Apis / Bee 15 (Hirth F33BS)
crew 1 pilot
length 6.26 m 6.22 m
Wingspan 13 m 15 m 14.97 m
Height (on elevator) 1.30 m 1.34 m
Wing area 10.36 m² 12.26 m² 12.24 m²
Wing extension 16.3 18.3 18.35
Max. Wing loading 23.6 kg 26.1 kg
Glide ratio ? 39 at 94 km / h 40 at 94 km / h
Slightest sinking ? 0.59 m / s at 84 km / h
Empty mass approx. 137 kg approx. 220 kg 215 kg
Max. Takeoff mass 245 kg 322.5 kg
Top speed in calm air 225 km / h 220 km / h
Top speed in gusty air 140 km / h 144 km / h
Top speed (engine extended) no engine ? 110 km / h
Top speed in winch launch not allowed ? 120 km / h
Maximum speed in aircraft tow 140 km / h ? 131 km / h
Minimum speed (flap position 0 °) 59.5 61 km / h
Load multiple (at VA ) 5.3 / -2.6 g 4 / -2 g 5.3 / -2.65 g
Flap positions + 10 °, + 5 °, 0 °, -3 °, -6 ° + 9 °, + 5 °, 0 °, -5 °, -7 ° + 10 °, + 5 °, 0 °, -5 °, -7 °
Total rescue system - JUNKERS Magnum 300 Speed ​​Softpack optional
Engine - Hirth F33BS
Tank capacity - 14 L 20 L
Propeller - Junkers / NKS-flight 2-blade Pipistrel 2-leaf
best rate of climb with motor - ? 3.3 m / s at 85 km / h

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Myles Hynde: COULD GERMANY'S MONOPOLY BE UNDER THREAT? - The emergence of the Slovenian aviation industry , in: Gliding International, July 2009, pp. 34-38
  2. ↑ Development project of the last decade ( Memento of February 13, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on November 1, 2009
  3. ↑ usenet posting by Robert J. Mudd (official Pipistrel dealer for New Mexico, Arizona and Utah) on February 2, 2008, 3:55 am in news: rec.aviation.soaring
  4. ↑ a b The year 2000 in the history of Pipistrel. In: pipistrel.si. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011 ; accessed on November 1, 2009 .
  5. ↑ Roger Mudd: The APIS 15-Meter Self-Launcher in: Auxiliary-powered Sailplane NEWS Volume XIV Issue # 86 May-June 2002
  6. ^ A b Robert J. Mudd: Apis Production & Support Taken Over By AMS . APS NEWS Volume XVI, Issue # 96, January – February 2004
  7. ↑ German Aero Club : The Whole World of Flying - Action Report 2006 available online (pdf)
  8. ↑ HOT! Pipistrel adds single-seat Apis-Bee to product line : January 11, 2008 news item on Pipistrel's website, accessed January 6, 2010
  9. ↑ www.monte-baldo.de ( Memento from January 7, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), website of the Monte Baldo flight school and Walter Eisele, the German sales partner of AMS Flight
  10. ↑ a b c The new and improved Bee-Apis is here : News from June 1, 2009 on the Pipistrel website, accessed on January 6, 2010
  11. ↑ FAI world record no. 6692  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Retrieved March 1, 2010@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / records.fai.org  
  12. ↑ FAI World Record No. 7085 ( Memento of August 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on March 1, 2010
  13. ↑ FAI World Record No. 7789 ( Memento of August 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on March 1, 2010
  14. ↑ FAI World Record No. 7790 ( Memento of August 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on March 1, 2010
  15. ↑ FAI World Record No. 7791 ( Memento of August 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on March 1, 2010
  16. ↑ a b DAeC data sheet no .: 61202.1, edition no .: 1, dated: March 13, 2008
  17. ↑ All models available as LSA in the USA with immediate effect! : Announcement of March 10, 2010 on the manufacturer's website, accessed on October 25, 2010 (English)
  18. ↑ Information brochure  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. to the Apis 15MB from the then sales partner (PDF, 186 kB)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.monte-baldo.de  
  19. ↑ ALBASTAR doo Zgornje Gorje: APIS 13 FLIGHT MANUAL
  20. ↑ Flight and operating manual for the BEE 15 MB , edition March 15, 2007 available online (pdf)
  21. ↑ Flight manual and Maintenance manual - applies to Apis / Bee, all models equipped with Hirth F33 BS engine REV. a0 (April 17, 2009) available online (pdf)

Web links