Earlier, Eric Greenwell wrote:

But here's question: we know a modern glider can be smaller than the 24
year old LS4 design and have the same performance. I suggest 13 meters
would do it without heroic efforts by the designer, but what do the
citizens of RAS think is the minimum?

I dunno about the others, but I'm betting on the range of about 14.3m
to 14.6m for normal sized US pilots. And that the very first guy who
buys one will ask "So, when will I be able to get 15m tips for it?"

I tend to believe that the legacy of span-limited competition classes
is such that sailplane buyers will tend to gravitate towards
competition spans, even those with very weak inclination to ever
compete. That's one of the reasons I'd like to see a distinct
competition class for sub-15m ships; and I think that 13m would be a
perfectly good place to draw the line.

A 13-meter class would collect all the Russias, Apii (Apia?), PW5s,
and Sparrowhawks, though sadly leave the 14m L33 (TG-10D for
USAFAians) out in the cold. It would give people at least a plausable
excuse to buy these little gliders, and give developers an economic
basis for developing them. And I think that it would be a kick-ass fun
class to fly in, since I'm just the right size for it and I'm used to
flying a few points short of a Libelle.

Thanks again, and best regards to all

Bob K.
http://www.hpaircraft.com/hp-24