Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3

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The Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3 is a glider built by Schempp-Hirth. 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 metres with tip extensions. The outer wing panels are in fact 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 sustaining engine.

Nimbus-3s took the first three places in the Open Class in the 1981 World Gliding Championships, but because of the expense of Open Class gliders there were only 12 entrants. In the next World Championships, it took the top six places and it won again in the 1985 'Worlds'.

The Nimbus-3D is the two-seater version. First flight was in May 1986. There is a slight forward sweep of the wings. There are also a self-launched version (Nimbus-3DM) and a sustainer version (Nimbus-3DT).

The successor was the Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4.

pecifications (with 24.5 metre wings)

aerospecs
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crew=One
capacity=272 kg (600 lb) water ballast
length m=7.63
length ft=25
length in=0
span m=24.8
span ft=80
span in=5
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height m=1.55
height ft=5
height in=1
wing area sqm=16.7
wing area sqft=180
swept area sqm=
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volume m3=
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aspect ratio= 35.9
wing profile= XX 79/18N2, ZZ 135/20
empty weight kg=396
empty weight lb=871
gross weight kg=700
gross weight lb=1,540
lift kg=
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max speed kmh=270
max speed mph=170
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glide ratio= ca. 58
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sink rate ms= 0.42
sink rate ftmin= 83

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References

* [http://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]
*Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999
*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Equip, 2004
* [http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/ Sailplane Directory]
* [http://www.schempp-hirth.com/ Schempp-Hirth homepage]