On Feb 1, 7:55Â*pm, "
wrote:
On Feb 1, 2:13�pm, Mark Jardini wrote:





Does anyone know the relationships between the following companies?
Pipistrel and AMS are obviously linked by the common wing to all their
aircraft and now Pipistrel has picked up the Apis line. the Silent
from Italy has an nearly identical fuselage to the Apis, but not the
same wings. there appears to be no real connection. (But the Apis wing
was designed by an Italian.
Urban Air in Czechia would seem unrelated, but on their Lambada motor
glider is using a wing from the Apis 2.
this is a slightly different Apis in many respects and has final
assembly by Wetzel Fluezuegtechnic. The plastic parts are made by
Urban but are unmistakable Apis fuselage and wings, though with
different tips.

Is this all a giant colaborration or who is borrowing from whom?

Curious in Portland and an Apis owner

Mark

Mark,

Long ago in a country far away, (Slovenia) there was a composites shop
called Albastar. It was run by a fellow named Pavel he had worked for
Elean building DG gliders but now runs his own composit shop.

Albastar was contracted by an Italian company to build molds and a
prtototype glider with a 12 meter span wing and a nose wheel. This
became the Ali Sport Silent. About that same time Pavel was contracted
by a Slovenian company, Pipistrel, to build the molds and prototype of
a two seat European Ultra light airplane. This became the Sinus and
later the Virus and Virus SW.

Being the creative person that he was Pavel imeditally saw the
potential for a glider of his own. He mated the Pipistrel wing with
the Silent fuselage and the Apis was born. If you look in a very old
issue of "Wings of the World / Flugel de Welt" you can see a picture
of the prototype Apis with a nose wheel, this is the Silent fuselage
with a nose wheel. Everyone liked the way the Apis flew so Pavel made
a fuselage plug and molds just for the Apis. The Silent and Apis
fuselages look alike but are very diffrent.

Silent fuselages are still made in Slovenia and the 12 meter wings
were made there also. The 13 meter wing is not made in Slovenia.

AMS was formed from Elan, they are located in the original Elan
facility but are a completely seperate company. They will move from
there in the not to distant future to their own facility. AMS has
diffrent managment but a few workers held over from Elan. AMS bought
the Apis project from Albstar and developed or assisted in the
development of several diffrent models. AMS also makes the Carat
motorglider which uses the Discus wing. They have a few other
interesting projects in development.

Pipistrel decided to buy the Apis, I suppose, to compliment their
Taurus two seat motorglider. Both the Taurus and the Apis are
available in a electric power and gas powered model. Both electric
versions were developed by the clever Slovenian engineer/glider pilot
Roman Susnik.

Pavel at Albastar has not been idle. They make sub assemblies for
Pipistrel and AMS. Pavel has also come up with a new two sear tandem
motorglider called the A2. Starting with a DG 500 fuselage he made
over 20 changes including making it a tail wheel configuration. The
wing is the well proven Pipistrel wing. This could be the trainer of
the future if it goes into production. That is a big if.

So right now the Pipistrel wing is flying on the following models:
Sinus 15 meter
Virus Â* 12.5 meter
Virus SW Â*10.5 meter
Taurus Â* Â* 15 meter
Apis 13 WR Â* Â* 13 meter, very light weight
Apis 13 Â* Â*13 meter
Apis 15 Â* Â* 15 meter
Apis MC selflaunch Â* Â*15 meter
Apis Bee Â*(carries a whole airframe parachute) Â* Â*15 meter
Apis EC Â*electric launch Â* Â*15 meter
Albastar A2 Â* Â*15 meter

Slovenia does not now have a bi-lateral agreement with the USA. This
is the basis for accptence of the LSA airframes that are not made in
the USA. So none of the models listed above are LSA compliant. The
Slovenia CAA is working toward a bi-lateeral agreement so hopefully in
the near future that will happen. All the aiframes in the USA are
certified in the Expermintal, Racing/Exhibition catogory. In Europe
and most of the rest of the world they are Ultra lights.

The Apis 2 is a knock off of the original Apis. The Slovenians are not
happy about this. There is no connection between anyone making Apis
gliders and anyone making Apis 2 gliders.

I hope this clears up a somewhat confused history of the Apis and
Pipistrel products.
All of them fly great and are well built.

Robert J. Mudd
Dealer for AMS and Pipistrel
Moriarty, New Mexico- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

UPS!!

I should have said all the airframes in the USA are certificated in
the Experimental: Amateur Built OR Racing/Exhibition catogory.
Several from each manufactuer have been built from kits.

Robert J. Mudd