The HS-3 Nimbus was a high performance single-seater. Holighaus designed and built this prototype glider in his spare time with assistance from Schempp-Hirth. Strictly speaking, it is not a Schempp-Hirth glider but rather a glider built at Schempp-Hirth.[1]
It employed the same fuselage as the Open Class Cirrus and a similar tail, but had an entirely new wing, high-set and in three segments adding up to a 22 m (72 ft) span. The prototype first flew in January 1969.[1]
The Nimbus had a rudder far too small for an aircraft of its size, leading to very unfavourable control characteristics; After the pilot applied full aileron and rudder inputs, the glider continued to fly straight ahead for several seconds before suddenly dropping a wing, requiring full opposite controls to recover. No air brakes were fitted and it was an exceptionally difficult glider to land. It was damaged several times in overshoots. However, it had an exceptionally high performance for the time, with a best glide ratio of 51:1 at 90 km/h (56 mph) and a minimum sink rate of only 0.43 m/s (1.4 ft/s).[1]
George Moffat of the USA flew the Nimbus in the 1970 World Gliding Championships at Marfa, Texas. He had to modify the aircraft's cockpit to fit in, and became the first person to sample its spin characteristics when, in mid-competition, the glider departed from a steep turn into autorotation with asymmetric water ballast. While considering bailing out, he remembered that the spin of the similar Akaflieg Darmstadt D36 could be tamed by rocking the stick back and forth violently. Flexing the wings caused the angle of attack to change and recovery eventually ensued. In spite of these difficulties, Moffat and the Nimbus won the World Championship.[1]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schempp-Hirth Nimbus.
^ abcdeSimons, Martin (2005). Sailplanes 1965–2000 (2nd revised ed.). Königswinter: EQIP Werbung und Verlag G.m.b.H. pp. 143-147. ISBN978-3-9808838-1-8.
Further readingedit
Thomas, Fred (Author); Milgram, Judah (Editor) (5 November 1999). Fundamentals of sailplane design (3rd ed.). College Park Press. ISBN978-0966955309. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
Moffat, George B. Jr. (Author); Joss, Joss (Editor); Wills, Philip (Introduction) (1974). Winning on the Wind (1st ed.). The Soaring Press. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
May 02, 2024
schempp, hirth, nimbus, prototype, glider, built, klaus, holighaus, nimbus, role, open, class, sailplane, national, origin, germany, manufacturer, schempp, hirth, designer, klaus, holighaus, first, flight, january, 1969, number, built, nimbus, high, performanc. The Schempp Hirth HS 3 Nimbus was a prototype glider built by Klaus Holighaus Nimbus Role Open class sailplane National origin Germany Manufacturer Schempp Hirth Designer Klaus Holighaus First flight January 1969 Number built 1 The HS 3 Nimbus was a high performance single seater Holighaus designed and built this prototype glider in his spare time with assistance from Schempp Hirth Strictly speaking it is not a Schempp Hirth glider but rather a glider built at Schempp Hirth 1 It employed the same fuselage as the Open Class Cirrus and a similar tail but had an entirely new wing high set and in three segments adding up to a 22 m 72 ft span The prototype first flew in January 1969 1 The Nimbus had a rudder far too small for an aircraft of its size leading to very unfavourable control characteristics After the pilot applied full aileron and rudder inputs the glider continued to fly straight ahead for several seconds before suddenly dropping a wing requiring full opposite controls to recover No air brakes were fitted and it was an exceptionally difficult glider to land It was damaged several times in overshoots However it had an exceptionally high performance for the time with a best glide ratio of 51 1 at 90 km h 56 mph and a minimum sink rate of only 0 43 m s 1 4 ft s 1 George Moffat of the USA flew the Nimbus in the 1970 World Gliding Championships at Marfa Texas He had to modify the aircraft s cockpit to fit in and became the first person to sample its spin characteristics when in mid competition the glider departed from a steep turn into autorotation with asymmetric water ballast While considering bailing out he remembered that the spin of the similar Akaflieg Darmstadt D36 could be tamed by rocking the stick back and forth violently Flexing the wings caused the angle of attack to change and recovery eventually ensued In spite of these difficulties Moffat and the Nimbus won the World Championship 1 The production version of the Nimbus was the Schempp Hirth Nimbus 2 Specifications editData from Sailplanes 1965 2000 1 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 110 kg 240 lb water ballast Length 7 3 m 23 ft 11 in Wingspan 22 m 72 ft 2 in Height 1 53 m 5 ft 0 in Wing area 15 8 m2 170 sq ft Aspect ratio 30 6 Airfoil root Wortmann FX67 K 170 tip Wortmann FX67 K 150 Empty weight 370 kg 816 lb Gross weight 500 kg 1 102 lb Performance Maximum glide ratio 51 1 at 90 km h 56 mph 49 kn Rate of sink 0 43 m s 85 ft min Wing loading 28 6 kg m2 5 9 lb sq ft to 32 kg m2 6 6 lb sq ft References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schempp Hirth Nimbus a b c d e Simons Martin 2005 Sailplanes 1965 2000 2nd revised ed Konigswinter EQIP Werbung und Verlag G m b H pp 143 147 ISBN 978 3 9808838 1 8 Further reading editThomas Fred Author Milgram Judah Editor 5 November 1999 Fundamentals of sailplane design 3rd ed College Park Press ISBN 978 0966955309 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a first1 has generic name help Moffat George B Jr Author Joss Joss Editor Wills Philip Introduction 1974 Winning on the Wind 1st ed The Soaring Press a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a first1 has generic name help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Schempp Hirth HS 3 Nimbus amp oldid 1174263521, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
