First glider Nimbus 2 ?

Sula wrote on 1/3/2021 7:18 AM:
isn't it true, that flying a glider with L/D 50 and sink rate of 0,5 m/s creates much smaller risk of outlanding altogether ?

Smaller, but probably not much smaller. And to become the pilot you want to be, you'll need to get comfortable with outlandings.

The risk of landing out is determined by the pilot's choices, not the glide ratio. You can fly
a 30:1 glider to the same landout risk as a 50:1 glider, but the 50:1 glider will allow you to
roam over a bigger area for the same risk.


there are lots of large agricultural fields in that part of Poland.

Yes, much of Poland is very glider-friendly (when crops aren't tall). But after outlanding you have the challenge of de-rigging the Nimbus. For many pilots, that can lead to "Sure, it's a nice day: probably 300+ km. But just a little uncertain. Best not to fly away from home and risk the chance of outlanding."

As John points out, a large, heavy 50:1 glider that is difficult to retrieve can lead to less
flying, or flying in an area similar to a small, light 30:1 glider that is easy to retrieve.

If you can keep the glider assembled all the time so you can void the lengthy chore of rigging,
if you have a good trailer, and if you have many club members ready and willing to retrieve
you, the Nimbus 2 might be a good choice.

--
Eric Greenwell

On 1/3/21 8:39 AM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Sula wrote on 1/3/2021 7:18 AM:
isn't it true, that flying a glider with L/D 50 and sink rate of 0,5
m/s creates much smaller risk of outlanding altogether ?

Smaller, but probably not much smaller.Â* And to become the pilot you
want to be, you'll need to get comfortable with outlandings.

The risk of landing out is determined by the pilot's choices, not the
glide ratio. You can fly a 30:1 glider to the same landout risk as a
50:1 glider, but the 50:1 glider will allow you to roam over a bigger
area for the same risk.


Â* there are lots of large agricultural fields in that part of Poland.

Yes, much of Poland is very glider-friendly (when crops aren't tall).
But after outlanding you have the challenge of de-rigging the Nimbus.
For many pilots, that can lead to "Sure, it's a nice day: probably
300+ km.Â* But just a little uncertain. Best not to fly away from home
and risk the chance of outlanding."

As John points out, a large, heavy 50:1 glider that is difficult to
retrieve can lead to less flying, or flying in an area similar to a
small, light 30:1 glider that is easy to retrieve.

If you can keep the glider assembled all the time so you can void the
lengthy chore of rigging, if you have a good trailer, and if you have
many club members ready and willing to retrieve you, the Nimbus 2 might
be a good choice.


Hello Piotr,

Allow me to give advice from a different perspective than those who only
tell you things designed to discourage you from the Nimbus. Having read
your questions and your description of your approach to higher
performance machinery, I would advise you to get the Nimbus with only
one caution: Know yourself and listen to your instructor.

Flying safely and enjoying it depend upon two things: Attitude and
Aptitude. I can see that you have the right attitude. Do you have the
aptitude? You should know and I'm sure your instructors and fellow
pilots will tell you, as well.

Don't worry about friends not coming to your aid because you have heavy
wings. They will come. Likewise, don't reject a glider that you want
because it doesn't have the best possible trailer. Again, they will
come. We are in this sport together and we help each other. Some of
the best memories come from retrieves.

Buy the glider if it is what you want. Fly it conservatively and extend
your wings as your experience and confidence grow. As long as you have
the aptitude and keep the attitude, you won't regret it.

--
Dan
5J

I would ask "why?" an original model Nimbus 2 rather than "why not?". I can't think of any logical reason to recommend a less experienced pilot to choose one of those nowadays. If you really really want a Nimbus 2 I would look for a Nimbus 2C. It looks the same but is really a very different and much superior glider with a fixed tailplane, much lighter carbon fibre wings, a higher maximum ballasted weight, superb trailing edge brakes and a very low landing speed. I would say that the one I had in the 80s was the easiest glider to put in a small field that I have ever flown. I also rigged it on my own every flying day.

As an aside, be extremely careful about checking all those Hotelier connections before flight.


On Sunday, 3 January 2021 at 17:02:27 UTC, Dan Marotta wrote:
On 1/3/21 8:39 AM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Sula wrote on 1/3/2021 7:18 AM:
isn't it true, that flying a glider with L/D 50 and sink rate of 0,5
m/s creates much smaller risk of outlanding altogether ?

Smaller, but probably not much smaller. And to become the pilot you
want to be, you'll need to get comfortable with outlandings.

The risk of landing out is determined by the pilot's choices, not the
glide ratio. You can fly a 30:1 glider to the same landout risk as a
50:1 glider, but the 50:1 glider will allow you to roam over a bigger
area for the same risk.


there are lots of large agricultural fields in that part of Poland.

Yes, much of Poland is very glider-friendly (when crops aren't tall).
But after outlanding you have the challenge of de-rigging the Nimbus.
For many pilots, that can lead to "Sure, it's a nice day: probably
300+ km. But just a little uncertain. Best not to fly away from home
and risk the chance of outlanding."

As John points out, a large, heavy 50:1 glider that is difficult to
retrieve can lead to less flying, or flying in an area similar to a
small, light 30:1 glider that is easy to retrieve.

If you can keep the glider assembled all the time so you can void the
lengthy chore of rigging, if you have a good trailer, and if you have
many club members ready and willing to retrieve you, the Nimbus 2 might
be a good choice.

Hello Piotr,

Allow me to give advice from a different perspective than those who only
tell you things designed to discourage you from the Nimbus. Having read
your questions and your description of your approach to higher
performance machinery, I would advise you to get the Nimbus with only
one caution: Know yourself and listen to your instructor.

Flying safely and enjoying it depend upon two things: Attitude and
Aptitude. I can see that you have the right attitude. Do you have the
aptitude? You should know and I'm sure your instructors and fellow
pilots will tell you, as well.

Don't worry about friends not coming to your aid because you have heavy
wings. They will come. Likewise, don't reject a glider that you want
because it doesn't have the best possible trailer. Again, they will
come. We are in this sport together and we help each other. Some of
the best memories come from retrieves.

Buy the glider if it is what you want. Fly it conservatively and extend
your wings as your experience and confidence grow. As long as you have
the aptitude and keep the attitude, you won't regret it.

--
Dan
5J