In 1971, Schemmp-Hirth began to produce the Nimbus II, an assembly-line version of a high-performance sailplane that Klaus Holighaus first flew in 1969. Compared to the first sailplane, Holighaus and factory designers introduced many improvements to the Nimbus II. They revised the wing, fuselage, and flaps and added airbrakes to the wing and a tail parachute to slow the sailplane during landings. The Nimbus II could carry 160 kg (353 lb) of water ballast to help a pilot to penetrate into the wind and when flying at its best glide speed, 105 kmh (65 mph), the sailplane was flying at a 49:1 lift-to-drag ratio. The fastest maximum speed that a Nimbus II pilot could safely fly was 270 kmh (167 mph).
Flying examples of the Nimbus II, Goran Ax won the world meet in Yugoslavia in 1972, and Moffat won another world contest in Australia in 1974. Nimbus II pilots have set a number of world records. In 1990, American Joann Shaw set the women's declared goal flight distance record at 951 km (591 miles). At the controls of this particular Nimbus II glider, William Ivans set these United States national speed records: July 26, 1984, average speed around a 500-kilometer triangular course: 140 kmh (86.7 mph); July 28, 1984, average speed around a 300-kilometer triangular course: 149 kmh (92.5 mph).
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
1971
CRAFT-Aircraft
Single-seat, mid-wing monoplane w/ t-tail, retractable main landing gear.
Wingspan: 20.3 m (66 ft 7 in)
Length: 7.3 m (24 ft ½ in)
Height: 1.5 m (4 ft 9 in)
Weights: Empty, 350 kg (771 lb)
Gross, 580 kg (1,278 lb)
Best glide speed 105 kmh (65 mph)
Maximum speed 270 kmh (167 mph)
Composite fiberglass-reinforced plastic, aluminum and steel fittings.
A20010185000
Gift of Rebecca P. Ivans.
National Air and Space Museum
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