On Aug 24, 6:31*am, J-Soar wrote:
Thanks for all the comments, and the few direct emails. Due to the time required I can't respond to all the issues raised.

Yes it is an Apis 13m, which was well built by Robert Mudd and then owned by Evergreen Soaring. I suspect Brad may have even flown it. I have read all the flying reports I can find about it, and I would respect anything Brad might add from his vast experience flying one.

My attitude still is that the crow-hop process I described is not a bad idea. And a few others here, with experience doing it, seem to agree. I have done many of them in new powered ultralights. For me it relieved the pressure of the transition, reducing the chance *of *“task over-load”, by getting more familiar with, and experience with some of the critical phases of flying before the actual flight, and thus reducing the risk.

I would also think that crow-hops in a towed glider are probably no big deal to do. The process is likely no different than practicing a rope break before the tow plane gets airborne, where you land straight ahead on the runway. So it is probably not a bad idea for others to practice it anyway.

A couple of useful things I did pick up on:

The comment which said watch out for PIOs rang a bell with me. I had that problem with one of the ultralights I designed and was crow-hop testing, when trying to test a new control while just a couple feet off the ground. That could be a problem in the Apis when reaching forward to release, or when unlocking the air brake. So I thought that unlocking the air brake first, like it would be anyway during a landing, and keeping the Apis on the ground with a forward stick while it gets up to speed, then release while still on the ground, then let it rise a few inches if there is enough speed left, then pull on the air brake, and then let it touch down and roll out like any normal landing.

The other concern might be allowing it to rise too high in a zoom climb, then stalling. But that is probably no different than any landing and not likely to happen to an experienced pilot.

Of course I'll discuss the crow-hop idea with my instructor, who is probably reading this RAS discussion anyway, and who has had a lot of experience in transitioning students to other gliders.

My Apis flying is still a few weeks away, so there is plenty of time to consider it, maybe even time for some others to try it and report back to RAS.

Thanks again,
Jerry Booker

Jerry,

The Apis Robert built was one of the nicest of the 13m kits that were
shipped over here. I have indeed flown it and it is a delight to fly.

My advice would be to talk with your CFI-G to determine if the
sailplanes you have flown will be suitable for transition to the Apis,
and I would say if you are handy in the 2 seat Blaniks you should be
just fine in the Apis. In fact the Albastar brochure says it is a
transition sailplane for the Blanik L-13.

You can use the flaps if you want but they are not really that
necessary for the first flights. I used 1 notch of positive just
because it gives a good view over the nose of the towplane. Leave them
at zero for landing, the ship can be landed just fine that way.

Make sure your airbrakes are locked until you need them; you mentioned
something about having them un-locked for a "crow-hop".........not a
good idea.

You have yourself a really nice sailplane there.................when
you are ready to move up, get one of Bob's HP-24 kits, I did and am
really happy with it.

Brad