Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3
{{More footnotes|date=February 2010}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name=Nimbus-3D
| image=G-CFZO (28213358498).jpg
| caption=
| type=Open-class sailplane
| national_origin=Germany
| manufacturer=Schempp-Hirth
| designer=Klaus Holighaus
| first_flight=21 February 1981
| introduction=
| retired=
| status=
| primary_user=
| number_built=
| developed_from=
| variants=
}}
The Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3 is a glider built by Schempp-Hirth.
Design and development
The Nimbus-3 uses carbon-fibre extensively and has a new wing profile compared with the Nimbus-2. It has a four-piece carbon-fibre wing with a 22.9 metre span but may be increased to 24.5 or 25.5 metres with tip extensions. The outer wing panels are slightly modified Ventus wings. When rolling at large aileron deflection, small spoiler flaps deploy at the inner wingtip to compensate for lack of rudder power. It was first flown on 21 February 1981 by its designer Dipl.-Ing Klaus Holighaus. A glide ratio of 60:1 has been claimed. The Nimbus-3T version has a sustainer engine.
Nimbus-3s took the first three places in the Open Class in the 1981 World Gliding Championships although there were only 12 entrants. In the 1983 World Championships it took the top six places, and it won again in the 1985 Championships.
The D-model (Nimbus-3D) is the two-seater version. There is also a self-launched two-seat version (Nimbus-3DM) and a two-seat sustainer version (Nimbus-3DT). The first flight of the D-model was in May 1986.
The Nimbus-3 was succeeded by the Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4.
Specifications (Nimbus 3)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89 {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89 |year=1988 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=London |isbn=0-7106-0867-5 |editor=John W.R. Taylor|pages=628}}
|prime units?=met
|crew=1
|length m=7.63
|span m=22.9
|span note=
|height m=1.55
|wing area sqm=16.3
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=32.2
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=392
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=750
|more general=
- Water ballast: {{convert|280|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|stall speed kmh=60
|never exceed speed kmh=270
|never exceed speed note=in smooth air
::::{{convert|200|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}} in rough air
::::{{convert|180|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}} on aero-tow
::::{{convert|150|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}} on winch launch
|g limits=+5.3 -2.65
|glide ratio=55:1 at {{convert|95|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}}
|sink rate ms=0.44
|sink rate note=at {{convert|75|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}}
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=46
|wing loading note=
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite book|last1=Milgram|first1=Fred Thomas; Judah|last2=translator|last3=contributor|title=Fundamentals of sailplane design|date=1999|publisher=College Park Press|location=College Park, MD|isbn=978-0966955309|edition=3rd}}
- {{cite book |last=Simons |first=Martin |title=Sailplanes 1965-2000 |year=2005 |publisher=EQIP Werbung und Verlag G.m.b.H. |location=Königswinter |isbn=978-3-9808838-1-8 |edition=2nd revised}}
External links
{{commons category|Schempp-Hirth Nimbus 3}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050206183811/http://www.ssa.org/Magazines/Johnson.asp Johnson R, A Flight Test Evaluation of the Nimbus-3, Soaring, December 1982]
- [http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ Sailplane Directory]
- [http://www.schempp-hirth.com/ Schempp-Hirth homepage]
{{Schempp-Hirth}}