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#11
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Advice re. Nimbus 3 OR 4Dt?
On Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 1:15:06 AM UTC-7, pete purdie wrote:
I have had a little time in Nimbus 3 (2 aircraft, from opposite ends of the production series), Nimbus 4, Nimbus 3DT, Nimbus 3DM and Nimbus 4DM, and also many more hours in ASH25. A little time may be a plus, since in my experience, you can get used to anything and think it is better than acceptable. In my personal opinion, ease of handling is important, it leaves time to think about the important things like where to go next - if your concentration is on maximising the climb while flying an unwieldy lump, then that takes away from time better spent. Having said which, I would avoid a very early Nimbus 3 and especially the earliest 3Ds before they increased the tail area and changed control relationships. Later ones are nicer. The 4 series are a lot nicer to fly, and the single seat 4 feels like a much smaller glider - a pleasure to fly. The ASH25 is quite different, but you get used to it quite quickly. I haven't done a full spin in any of the above, and wouldn't want to, that's test pilot stuff; I have approached divergence in all of them and they all gave me sufficient warning. I say again, all the above is personal opinion. At 23:50 21 August 2018, Ventus_a wrote: John McLaughlin;974863 Wrote: I'm just coming back into gliding after a long time grounded and I'm looking to buy a glider over the winter. A two seater seems a nice ide an the Nimbus seems to be a lot of glider for the money Are they in any way difficult or unpleasant to fly? I know there hav bee structural failures due to loss of control Are they difficult or heavy to rig Maintenance issues? Airframe life issues How much would insurance typically cost - a two seater has to cost more than a single seater Is winch launching unwise? Is it best to stick to a tarmac runway Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks Hi Joh I currently own a Nimbus 3D and a Ventus a. I swap between the without any problems and the Nimbus doesn't feel ponderous at all to m I've some time in a Duo X and I'd describe the 3D as being like slightly sluggish Duo to roll especially if you are flying it too slow then it resembles an out of control barge :-) . Appropriate speed is th key. Both flight manuals quote 4.4 seconds for the 45 to 45 tur reversal at their respective MAUW with the Nimbus in +2 thermal flap a 60kts and the Duo 4kts slower. I have no hesitation in doing reversal while thermalling if I think it will centre me quicker. No problems wit either aerotow or winching and I don't even mind a wing down take-of from grass on aerotow if no wing runner is available Unlike some I fly with the tip spoilers connected and as they onl deploy (if properly adjusted) when nearing full aileron travel there i no drag penalty when flying 'clean'. They help a lot with rapi maneuvering enabling you to put the glider where you want it quickly an be back 'clean' again. The biggest hinderance in flying big wings tha my fellow pilot ride alongs display is a lack of willingness to use ful controls as necessary I've had a few passengers who have ASH 25 time fly with me and they al say the Nimbus is more responsive and quicker handling, but I suspec that relates more to lack of appropriate speed as the one time I flew a ASH with Terry Delore in NZ I thought it was fine and was looking to bu one before I settled on the Nimbus I solo rig the Nimbus in c.40- 45 minutes and it's the endless tapin that's the biggest drag and de-rig in 30. I regularly land the Nimbu shorter than the club Duo and twice have outlanded the Nimbus in c.140y (1st and last landouts to date with another 2 or 3 in there Any way that's my opinion from owning a 3D and it's only an opinion Some people like big wings and some don't Good luck and welcome back to soarin :-) Coli -- Ventus_a Just a note on these big birds, it can pay to check the rigging, especially if it is new to you. I flew a Nimbus 4 that was severely mis-rigged and flew like it. A few hours in the shop, well better part of a day, a hot day, rigged correctly it flew like a beauty. |
#12
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Advice re. Nimbus 3 OR 4Dt?
On Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at 6:52:35 AM UTC-7, Roy B. wrote:
Peter: ". . . while flying an unwieldy lump" Thank you for that phrase - I will use it often in the future! For what it is worth, the fully developed spin in the Nimbus 3 is not uncomfortable. The rotation rate is quite slow, the pitch changes not dramatic, and the recovery is reasonably positive. I've about 600 hours in two different N3s. I have never done the spin with water and agree that is the territory for test pilots. ROY I did a quarter turn in a spin in a fully ballasted Nimbus 4 (not on purpose), stood on opposite rudder, put stick against forward stop and the glider recovered in a quarter turn, without much altitude loss, everything seemed in slow motion with those big wings and all up weight, no problem. I do have significant time in a Nimbus 4D and thought it flew very different and not as pleasant to me as the single seat Nimbus 4. However, two seat flying is the best! |
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