Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3

Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3

Type designation	Nimbus-3
Competition class	Open
Year	1981
Number built	-
Crew	1
Length	7.63 m
Height	1.55 m
Cockpit width	0.62 m
Cockpit height	0.80 m
Wingspan	22.90 / 24.50 m
Wing area	16.28 / 16.7 m²
Aspect ratio	32.2 / 35.9
Wing profile	XX 79/18N2 ZZ 135/20
Empty mass	396 kg
Water ballast	272 kg
Maximum mass	750 kg (22.9 m) 700 kg (24.5 m)
Wing loading	29 - 46 kg/m² (22.9 m) 28 - 42 kg/m² (24.5 m)
Maximum speed	270 km/h
Speed in rough air
Minimum sink rate	0.42 m/s at 75 km/h (24.5 m)
Best glide ratio	ca. 58 (24.5 m)
Roll rate	7.5 s at 89 km/h for -45º to +45º bank

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.

Sources

• 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
• Sailplane Directory