Russia Sailplanes website

Rumor is there will be a new US distributor announced this year. If
you look at the Aviastroitel website (in Russian), you see many new
models being developed. Since the US was the largest market, clearly
these new models will likely be made available in the US. Which
indicates the rumors of the new US distributor might actually come
true.

Having flown both the PW5 and the Russia, I would say the PW5 is a bit
fancier in the cockpit (small stick like the expensive birds, for
example), but that is all. The Russia has much better control harmony
and seems a lot tougher overall. The rudder coordination take a while
to figure out in the PW5. Assembly of the Russia is way better
(really is a 10 minute, one person job), and glide performance with
the retract gear is much better than the fixed gear PW5. The only
negative with the Russia is it is a little pitch sensitive, requiring
re-adjusting attitude with spoiler changes (that is, more spoilers
cause the plane to slow down). Takes a bit of practice to smooth out
your landing if you transition directly from a more stable bird like
the 2-33.

The Russia does have a very bad tailwheel that just does not hold air.
Expect to spend around $130 to replace the Russian tailwheel with a
Tost tailwheel. Some owners report leaky mainwheels, but nothing
beyond having to add air every other month. Cheap fixes ($8)
involving Slime are available for the mainwheel.

Availability of used aircraft for sale seems a good indicator of how
well owners like living with a particular airplane. While you can
find a number of the self-launch AC5M Russians for sale (like due to
the 400-450 fpm climb rate from the 28 hp engine....I think this might
have disappointed a few owners), not many of the glider AC4 are for
sale. Seems like a satisfied group.

John