Pipistrel Apis-Bee

{{Short description|Slovenian motorglider}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use British English|date=December 2022}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Apis-Bee | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Motor glider]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Slovenia]] | manufacturer = [[Pipistrel]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed (2018) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [[Pipistrel Apis]] | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Pipistrel Apis-Bee''', also called the '''Apis/Bee''', (''Apis'' means [[bee]] in [[Latin]]) is a [[Slovenia]]n [[mid-wing]], single-seat [[Glider (sailplane)|glider]] and [[motor glider]] that was designed and produced by [[Pipistrel]].<ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 136. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

By October 2018, it was listed as a "legacy" product and production had ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pipistrel.si/plane/apisbee/overview|title=Pipistrel Aircraft Apis/Bee - Pipistrel|website=www.pipistrel.si|accessdate=15 October 2018|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20180621014838/https://www.pipistrel.si/plane/apisbee/overview|archivedate = 21 June 2018}}</ref>

==Design and development== The Apis-Bee is a second generation derivation of the original [[Pipistrel Apis]] design. The company explains the name of this version, "In some countries, the name 'Apis' is trademarked, so we are unable to use it. These countries are, as far as we know, the following: Germany, Austria, Switzerland and some Scandinavian countries. There, the aircraft is marketed as 'Bee'. We chose this because 'Apis' in Latin means a bee."<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="FAQ">{{cite web|url = http://www.pipistrel.si/plane/apisbee/faq|title = What is new with the new generation Apis/Bee?|accessdate = 2 December 2012|last = [[Pipistrel]]|year = 2011|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121220222813/http://www.pipistrel.si/plane/apisbee/faq|archivedate = 20 December 2012 }}</ref>

The aircraft is made from composites, predominately [[carbon fibre]] and [[fibreglass]] with some portions in sandwich configuration and some as shells. The [[tailplane]] is a [[T-tail]] configuration. The wing is the same as the wing used on the [[Pipistrel Sinus]] and [[Pipistrel Taurus|Taurus]]. Its {{convert|14.97|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} span wing employs a 17.01% IMD 029 [[airfoil]], has an area of {{convert|12.24|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, an [[aspect ratio (wing)|aspect ratio]] of 18.33 and mounts [[flaperon]]s as well as [[Schempp-Hirth]] style [[Air brake (aircraft)|airbrake]]s. The powered version has a pylon-mounted, retractable [[Hirth F33|Hirth F33 BS]] [[two-stroke]] single cylinder engine.<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="Specs">{{cite web|url = http://www.pipistrel.si/plane/apisbee/technical-data|title = Apis/Bee technical data|accessdate = 2 December 2012|last = [[Pipistrel]]|year = 2011|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121220223749/http://www.pipistrel.si/plane/apisbee/technical-data|archivedate = 20 December 2012}}</ref>

The Apis-Bee differs from the early Apis by the incorporation of 133 improvements, including: retractable landing gear, steerable tailwheel, [[ballistic parachute]], enlarged cockpit, new lighter Hirth F33BS engine that can be removed quickly and has faster engine extension and retraction, a redesigned propeller, lower vibration levels and better cooling, standard wing-mounted {{convert|20|L}} fuel tank replacing the former {{convert|8|L}} tank, new instrument panel, cockpit control ergonomics, the engine management system from the Taurus, re-balanced and lighter flight control feel, optional 5.00 × 5 main wheel, leather interior, solar panels to run the on-board electrical system, improved cockpit ventilation and canopy defog and a new [[Firewall (engine)|firewall]] between the cockpit and the engine compartment.<ref name="FAQ" />

==Operational history== The Apis-Bee holds many [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] world records in the under {{convert|300|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} class:<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="FAQ" />

*Free out and return distance: {{convert|310|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, Tanja Pristavec, DU feminine *Free distance using up to 3 turn points: {{convert|347.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, Tanja Pristavec, DU feminine *Free distance: {{convert|154|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, (Tanja Pristavec, DU feminine) *Free distance using up to 3 turn points: {{convert|808.9|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, Boštjan Pristavec *Speed over a triangular course of {{convert|100|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}: {{convert|76.9|km/h|mph|1|abbr=on}}, Tanja Pristavec, DU feminine *Out-and-return distance: {{convert|501|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, Andrej Kolar, DU general *Speed over an out-and-return course of {{convert|500|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}: {{convert|82.1|km/h|mph|1|abbr=on}}, Andrej Kolar, DU general *Free Three Turn Points Distance: {{convert|619.7|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, Andrej Kolar, DU general *Free out-and-return distance: {{convert|511.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}, Andrej Kolar, DU general *Speed record over a triangular course: {{convert|118.2|km/h|mph|1|abbr=on}}, Boštjan Pristavec

==Specifications (Apis-Bee motorglider) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12 and manufacturer<ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="Specs" /> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m=6.26 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=14.97 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m=1.3 |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=12.24 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio=18.33:1 |airfoil= 17.01% IMD 029 |empty weight kg=222 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg=322.5 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |fuel capacity={{convert|20|L}} |more general=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=58 |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh=220 |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits=+5.3/-2.65 |roll rate= |glide ratio=40:1 at {{convert|94|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} |climb rate ms=3.3 |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |sink rate ms=0.59 |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2=26.3 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= * [[List of gliders]] |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20181016032536/http://www.pipistrel.si/plane/apisbee/overview Official website archive] on [[archive.org]] {{Pipistrel aircraft}}

[[Category:2010s Slovenian sailplanes]] [[Category:Pipistrel aircraft|Apis-Bee]] [[Category:Motor gliders]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]] [[Category:T-tail aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with retractable bicycle landing gear]]