Photograph:
AMS-Flight Apis M S5-NKR in Germany in May 2005 (M Korbar)
Country of origin:
Slovenia
Description:
Self-launched glider
Power Plant:
One 31 kw (42 hp) Rotax 447UL-2V two-cylinder, two-stroke, fan-cooled, electronic single-ignition engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 13 m (42 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 10.36 m² (111.51 sq ft)
- Never exceed speed: 225 km/h (140 mph)
- Stalling speed: 52 km/h (32 mph)
- Glide ratio: 38
- Empty weight: 180 kg (397 lb)
- Payload: 130 kg (286 lb)
- Loaded weight: 380 kg (722 lb)
History:
The Apis was a light amateur built powered glider built in Slovenia. In February 2005 the AMS Group at Ljublijana in Slovenia took over the production of the former German-built Glaser Dirks DG-300 and DG-500 series of gliders, amongst others. This led to some development of the type. It became available in kit form as the Apis, and has been produced in conjunction with Albastar in two variants, one for free flight and the other the self-launched variant.
The first of the series registered in this region became VH-HNU (c/n A043-M17) to its owner at Gateshead, NSW In March 2007.