Here is more proof the Russia is better than the PW5, at least in the
USA.

There were 81 Russian gliders imported to America, 26 motorgliders
imported, and 3 kits built. This according to the yahoo AC4 group.

If you search the FAA aircraft registry on the Internet, you will find
a smaller number of the "other" world class gliders registered in the
USA. Specifically, the FAA lists the number of PW-5 aircraft
registered as 65; and the number of L-33 Solo aircraft registered as
55.

Based on these numbers, the USA market place clearly prefers the
Russia to the PW5.

I assume one reason the Russia is a better choice then the PW5 is the
design has evolved from tail dragger, to nose wheel, to retract gear,
to motor glider, to now apparently touring glider, and soon-to-be
longer-span/winglet/flapped glider. The PW5 is "stuck" as a design
and not allowed to evolve.

So really, can you compare a new Russia with a decade-old design such
as the PW5? I once watched a retract gear C model Russia literally
run away from a PW5 between thermals...almost like the PW5 was going
backwards. Pull the gear up and add the wing root fairings, and the
Russia is 35:1. Nothing the poor 30:1 PW5 can do about that.