Russia AC-4 Series

[William Hoadley]

Does anybody have experience with the Russia sailplanes AC-4 series of
gliders? I was curious about how they might be for a pilot not interested
in competition, just sport and badge flying. Any comments would be helpful.
Bill Hoadley who...@msn.net

[Armand A. Medeiros]

Soaring Mag had a few good articles on it. Seems like a fairly nice
sailplane lacking only L/D. But, 33:1 is okay in moderate to good
conditions and the price is right!

AAM

[Roboman]

[Roboman]

There's a page about it at http://www.mcn.net/~soarmontana/russia.html .

Roboman

[Gregory H. Aicklen]

William Hoadley wrote:

I have a bunch of hours in AC-4 models A and B. In general the
glider handles well, and is fun to fly. The glide performance is
good, and Russia's climb easily, but the AC-4 has some trouble
penetrating against significant headwinds. Ground handling is a
breeze, since the aircraft is amazingly light.

With the Dick Johnson wing root fairings, you get perhaps 32:1 or
33:1, which is enough legs even for a low time pilot like me to
consider cross country. Short field landings aren't too hard, but
the wheel brake seems to be pretty weak. Assembly and disassembly
is very easy.

My complaints about the AC-4, both the A and B models, is that the
seat (or lack thereof) is intensely uncomfortable after an hour
or so in the air. After a couple of hours, my butt is in serious
pain. Also, I find the A model less cramped and more comfortable
than the B, even though the B model was supposed to make more room
for the big and tall crowd (go figure ... I'm only 5'10).

I understand there is a seat option available now for the AC-4.
Probably worth the investment if you're going to be doing badge
work, but check it out with someone who has flown such. You might
also try a variety of cushions for the seat pan.

Straight ahead visibility is problematic (for me) due to the
construction of the two-part canopy. Otherwise, no problem.

My (humble) opinion is that as long as you are comfortable (or can
get comfortable) sitting in the Russia for hours at a time, the Russia
is great fun, would work pretty well for the uses you indicate,
and is certainly cost effective.

Regards,

Greg

--
Gregory H. Aicklen SGS 1-35C - "PM"

[SOFTEK Inc.]

I have about 4 hours so far in the AC-4 and I LOVE IT! Our club's makes some
strange noises on tow and occasionally the pre-stall noise (but not buffet)
even over 50 kts. Nobody knows why, once you get used to this it doesnt
bother you. My longest flight so far is 1.2 hours and I did not have any
comfort problems with the seat. Like you, I am just interested in having
fun. By the way one day I flew along a Blanik L-23 side by side, and I
clearly outperformed him. He landed 1/2 hour before me.

Pitch stability is very good once you trim it out but even a little pressure
on the rudders will cause yaw. I have to remove my feet from the pedals to
stay straight and level.

I now fly the russia every chance I get.

Tim Pierson
Seattle, WA

William Hoadley wrote in message ...

[Bob Johnson]

SOFTEK Inc. wrote:

----- snip -----

>
>"Like you, I am just interested in having
>fun. By the way one day I flew along a Blanik L-23 side by side, and I
>clearly outperformed him. He landed 1/2 hour before me."

Uh oh, the comps bug just bit someone! 8^)

Bob Johnson 1F

[Robert Hills]

Maybe we can get Tom Udd to write an account of his Diamond Goal attempt
in his Russia at Ephrata (WA) this year. I know he is regularly the last
one to land after a good number of hours soaring.

SOFTEK Inc. wrote:
>
> I have about 4 hours so far in the AC-4 and I LOVE IT!

(snip)

> I now fly the russia every chance I get.
>
> Tim Pierson
> Seattle, WA

robert...@mcione.com

[russ...@my-dejanews.com]

I haven't yet tried for the Dimond distance in the Russia, but I have
attempted the Gold distance. I made the flight but, my turnpoint pictures
were lacking. I like the ship, it flies well and I am comfortable in it. It
is the frist model A Serial 003 so it has some different features than all
the others in the field. I have the fairings and have re-painted the glider
(white of course)I have not done any performance testing but i know the
glider flies better with the fairings. For all you guys who want to have fun
and not break your budget try a Russia.

Tom Udd Serial 003 "RU"

In article <362024...@mcione.com>,

-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own

[sailpla...@gmail.com]

Were wingleasy ever developed/approved for the russia

[Frank Whiteley]

On Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 5:47:28 PM UTC-6, sailpla...@gmail.com wrote:
> Were wingleasy ever developed/approved for the russia

There's a Yahoo Group ac4 you might want to join if not already a member.

[Discus 44]

On Tuesday, October 6, 1998 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, William Hoadley wrote:
> Does anybody have experience with the Russia sailplanes AC-4 series of
> gliders? I was curious about how they might be for a pilot not interested
> in competition, just sport and badge flying. Any comments would be helpful.
> Bill Hoadley who...@msn.net

Well... It has been a long time since I owned the Russia, but since I have about 700 hours in the AC4-A I can say it was a fun ship to fly. Easy to maintain, and easy to rig. As far as a cross country ship I did every thing I wished to do in it. I never found the lack of penetration to be an issue, just had to circle more than some others, and it took more time to get home on those days. The ship is made light weight, and it does take a bit of care not to put hangar rash on it. Mine was the first AC4 in the country so there wasn't much to compare it to. Some guys wanted to compare it to a 1-26 and it is clearly not. I learned quite a lot flying this ship. I had not learned to thermal well before owning this machine so I was doing a lot of learning the ropes with it. It climbs well with the fairings added. Many engineering types tell me the fairings are too big and should have been half the size. It didn't matter to me as they did improve the performance markedly. If you can buy one with a good trailer you will have no trouble with it. The price is right and all that considered. And yes I did complete my Diamond Goal flight, 1999 in this ship. Took six hours to go 300 K the first time. Did repeat many more 300 K flights in a lot less time after that. I sold the Russia to a gentleman in 2004 and hes since sold it to another pilot who lives in Maine. It still is flying as far as I know.

Tom Udd

[moshe....@gmail.com]

That's me. Vermont, not Maine :-)

Fun to fly, and I do plenty of XC in it, albeit more slowly than the bigger ships. With a chute plus proper fitting and padding, I find the seat comfortable enough for 5+ hours. I've had several 300km flights in it the way OLC counts, but am still trying for a 300km pre-declared triangle. I do get locked out of XC on days with lowish tops and widely spaced thermals, while the 15-18m ships keep on going.

[Discus 44]

On Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 9:44:25 AM UTC-7, moshe....@gmail.com wrote:
> That's me. Vermont, not Maine :-)
>
> Fun to fly, and I do plenty of XC in it, albeit more slowly than the bigger ships. With a chute plus proper fitting and padding, I find the seat comfortable enough for 5+ hours. I've had several 300km flights in it the way OLC counts, but am still trying for a 300km pre-declared triangle. I do get locked out of XC on days with lowish tops and widely spaced thermals, while the 15-18m ships keep on going.

Sorry Moshe. I forgot it is in Vermont. Have good flights this season.

[John Smith]

Any advice for an upstart? I recently purchased #034 (AC-4C) and have been doing upgrades, FLARM, LXNav S100, Disk Brake, wet sand, and general cleanup. Low time solo student, haven't flown it yet, but soon very soon.

Wondering about landing and handling, stall, spins, etc. etc. any points to be concern with when going XC? Suggested Padding, rigging?

Your time is appreciated.

John Smith

[son_of_flubber]

Hey John Smith... Check out https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ac4

[texastec...@gmail.com]

They discontinued the yahoo group for AC-4 gliders late last year (2019). I have a question about the BRS (parachute/rocket) in our AC-4B. It is nearing the end of its 24 year service life, and I'm wondering it it is a "requirement" to keep it in the glider, or whether we could just remove it and fly without. Obviously we can, the question is whether it is required to be in the glider for the IA to pass it during an annual. Does anyone have experience with this situation? The IA we are using doesn't seem to think he can pass it if the parachute isn't installed and up-to-date.

Thanks,

Stephen

[Dan Daly]

It may not be too late - got this from Yahoo Groups Jan 10th. I've migrated my groups. It might be worth an e-mail, particularly if you know who the group owner was. Even if not, if you push the flight safety aspect of the information, you might get lucky. It's just an e-mail....

"Hi Yahoo Member,

In recent weeks, we communicated the latest changes to Yahoo Groups and explained how to request a download of any content you’ve previously posted to the platform. Some Groups users asked us for more time, and in response to these requests, we have decided to extend the deadline. Groups users now have until Friday, January 31, 2020 at 11:59pm PST to submit a request for their data.

We have now taken down all user content from the Yahoo Groups website. However, we will continue to accept users’ requests for their data until January 31, 2020, and will ensure these have been fulfilled prior to deleting the data.

For additional support, users can email YahooGroups...@verizonmedia.com and our team will troubleshoot any issues."

[SoaringXCellence]

Stephen,

Check the minimum equipment list in the flight manual, and the FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet. If it's not listed there, then there should not be a requirement to have it installed.

[SoaringXCellence]

On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 1:59:30 PM UTC-8, SoaringXCellence wrote:
> Stephen,
>
> Check the minimum equipment list in the flight manual, and the FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet. If it's not listed there, then there should not be a requirement to have it installed.

I can't find a TCDS for the Russia, so it must be experimental only, that should make it even easier to do without the ballistic system.

[John Smith]

On Tuesday, October 6, 1998 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, William Hoadley wrote:
> Does anybody have experience with the Russia sailplanes AC-4 series of
> gliders? I was curious about how they might be for a pilot not interested
> in competition, just sport and badge flying. Any comments would be helpful.
> Bill Hoadley who...@msn.net

It's not listed as mandatory equipment for mine. I'm tempted to take mine out and just get a regular chute.


John

[Larry Williams]