Shawn schreef:

Marc Ramsey wrote:
Soarin Again wrote:
At 05:42 23 December 2006, Js wrote:
306 km/hr = 190 mph = 165 knots

That is an amazing feat!

Yes, it is.
Anyone trying to beat that record should be certain
their parachute is
in good shape, as the number of wings will likely total
zero.
Jim

Does anyone know if his Nimbus 4DM has had special
modifications to increase the vne at altitude, or does
he just not care about operating limitations?

306 km/hr true airspeed is 200 to 220 km/hr IAS at the 20000+ foot
altitudes used for these wave flights. Some gliders do require a
reduction in Vne at higher altitudes, but it isn't necessarily the case
that the limitation was exceeded.

I find these sorts of discussions amusing. Do F1 drivers religiously
follow redline engine speeds or anticipated braking limits for
conditions when they're out to beat the next guy?
Breaking records in aircraft is not analogous to driving the family SUV
to the mall, or the 1-26 around a silver distance triangle. Speed
limits and safe and reasonable don't apply. If it wasn't pushing the
envelope, we'd all be doing it.
My $ 0.02.


Shawn

When not flying in an airworthiness glider you're simply not allowed to
fly at all, so no records either. That does give Americans (of which
most have an experimental registrated glider) in fact an unfair
advantage, but up to now no one cared. Maybe that's gonna change...