First glider Nimbus 2 ?

It might be a good idea to find a copy of Dick Johnson's flight test of
the original Nimbus 2 published in Soaring magazine. Unfortunately
it is omitted from the web.archive.org list of Dick Johnson articles.
He describes getting into into a very bad situation with an
uncontrollable pitch up on an autotow launch. He advised "I do not
recommend that pilots with less than several hundred recent flying
hours fly this beautiful but complex machine, particularly from
ground tow".

BTW I used to own a carbon Nimbus 2c which I regard as a totally
different proposition - a big pussy cat. Lighter yet takes loads of
water (which it needs) with a 650kg MAUW compared with 580 for
the N2. Non-droopy carbon wings. Stable pitch control with a
conventional tailplane. Superb trailing edge airbrakes (that don't
increase the stalling speed) and a slow landing speed that make it a
very easy outlanding glider.

John Galloway


At 18:24 13 March 2015, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
I think Jules 970 is right on point. And I can not stress enough,
that if
y=
ou get this Nimbus2 you will do much less flying than if you get
one of
th=
e gliders mentioned below. If you are flying XC you want a glider
that is
=
comfortable and easy to handle, what if you are low and have to
bend
around=
a small thermal, you want a glider that is easy to fly, you will
build
mor=
e confidence, you will want to fly it more and friends will help you
assemb=
le the glider. If you get a machine like this you are more likely to
not
b=
e confident for many hours, it might scare you enough that you do
not
fly..=
.... Good luck and stay safe.

On Friday, March 13, 2015 at 9:15:04 AM UTC-7, Jules 970 wrote:
Hi Surge
=20
Having flown a Nimbus 2B and a good range of other types I
would not
recommend a Nimbus 2 / 2B to a low hours glider pilot unless he
had a lot
of other handling experience (for example as a fast jet or
aerobatic
pilot). The all flying tail is not very stable in pitch and the
airbrakes
are rather weak (there is a mod which will double paddle them
but even
th=
en
they are adequate rather than great).=20
=20
Like most gliders of this generation it will spin if provoked, but
the
behavior is dependent on the CofG position - with an aft CofG
they drop a
wing quite easily and are definitely not as docile as the more
modern
types.
=20
The Nimbus 2C is better in some respects (fixed tail and trailing
edge
brakes) but most open class gliders are not ideal for low-hours
pilots
(y=
ou
dont say your hours but I assume that is the case). The
exception IMHO is
the Open Cirrus which is relatively straightforward.
=20
Of course with a few hundred hours under your belt on other
types (such
a=
s
std cirrus or Janus) things would be different.
=20
I would recommend an LS4 if you can afford it, or ASW19/20 as
a slightly
cheaper option, or maybe a DG200/202 or DG101 or DG300.
Any of these is
good for 300-500km flights given reasonable conditions and will
be easier
to handle, thermal, and land (out or away).
=20
Best advice as always is talk to you CFI - assuming they have a
good
rang=
e
of experience and types in the book
=20
Of course this is only my opinion but hope it helps !
=20

On Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 8:11:44 PM UTC-7, Surge
wrote:
A Nimbus 2 is on the market which I'm interested in as my
first glider
an=3D
d I'd like some feedback from those who've owned or flown
one.
=3D20
I do realize that a flapped, long winged glider is not the best
choice
fo=3D
r a low time pilot which is why I will keep the glider in a hangar
while
I
=3D
first build up some experience on Grob G102's. My motivation
for
purchas=
e
i=3D
s because I think the glider matches my checklist for the type
of flying
I'=3D
ve always wished to do and also because of the opportunity
presented
which
=3D
may not come around again. Due to the fact that gliders take
ages to
sel=
l
w=3D
here I live (slow market), I'd rather purchase something I want
to fly
for
=3D
the next 20 years than purchase an intermediate "first glider"
that I
battl=3D
e to sell later. There is enough G102 stock available to hire in
the
transi=3D
tion phase.
=3D20
My aim in soaring has always been to do medium distance
(300-500km),
rela=3D
xed, cross country flying (armchair ride) so with regards to
performance
an=3D
d bang-for-buck it ticks the boxes. I am not interested in
competition
flyi=3D
ng. I'd much rather cruise around at 160km/h with an L/D of
~40:1 than
blas=3D
t around at 200+ km/h trying to shave precious seconds off a
task.=3D20
I'd like to know more about the glider's vices or problem
areas I need
to=3D
be aware of.
=3D20
1. Stall/spin characteristics. How much warning does it give
before
stall=3D
ing and does it have any tendency to suddenly drop a wing and
spin or
ca=
n
i=3D
t be considered as one of the docile gliders in the stall/spin
category?
If=3D
it constantly wants to kill me (a pilot issue) I'd rather stay
with an
Ast=3D
ir and just limit my cross country range.
=3D20
2. Pitch sensitivity. The glider has an all flying tail (not a 2B
or
2=
C
m=3D
odel). How pitch sensitive is it once trimmed in cruise? Is it
twitchy/unst=3D
able and need constant attention or is it fairly stable and one
doesn't
hav=3D
e to constantly fight to keep attitude constant?
=3D20
3. Approach control. How effective are the airbrakes? Are
outlandings
=
a
c=3D
hallenge with the tail chute? Where I fly there are usually
plenty of
plowe=3D
d fields at least 300m long and fairly wide (apparently guarded
by
farmers
=3D
with shotguns).
=3D20
Areas I'm aware of:
- Pitch is sensitive which evidently makes tugging a bit
trickier.
- Long wings and cross winds don't play nicely together on
takeoff.
- Don't go full positive flap on takeoff as the wing may fly
before
th=
e
t=3D
ail! :-O
- Roll rate is not snappy and the glider is a bit under
ruddered which
ma=3D
kes entering thermals a bit more challenging than most 15m
ships.
- Long wings and mediocre airbrakes (compared to Astirs)
make out
landing=3D
s more challenging/dangerous.
- Heavy wings are not an issue as the glider will be hangared
and
flow=
n
c=3D
onservatively cross country. The odd retrieve shouldn't be a
reason to
not
=3D
fly such an awesome old lady.
- The glider comes with a decent trailer and accessories
before
someon=
e
b=3D
rings that up.
- All AD's including tail AD applied.