Schempp-Hirth Ventus

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The Schempp-Hirth Ventus is a sailplane produced by Schempp-Hirth between 1980 and 1994. It replaced the Mini-Nimbus. It was designed by Klaus Holighaus.

Carbon fibre had become less expensive and so the whole wing was made of carbon reinforced plastic. A new thinner wing section was also developed. In addition to the 15 metre span complying with the Racing Class, longer tips were available to increase the span to 16.6 metres. Two fuselage sizes were produced, the Ventus A is the narrow version and the Ventus B is the wider version. Winglets have been retro-fitted to many As and Bs. The best measured glide ratio at 15 metres is 44:1 but with the 16.6 metre tips the ratio improved to 46:1 (50:1 according to one source).

Both the A and B have the complex flap/brake arrangement of the Mosquito and the Mini-Nimbus, but the later Ventus C has conventional air-brakes, separate from the flaps. The optional tips in the Ventus C can extend the span to 17.6 metres (16.6 metres in the A and B versions). Some Ventus Bs and Cs are fitted with small sustaining engines (turbos) and are designated with a "T" while some are self-launching and have an "M".

The Ventus won two World Gliding Championships in competition with the Alexander Schleicher ASW 20 and later the Rolladen-Schneider LS6. The Ventus A and B acquired a reputation for unparalleled high speed glide performance, though as noted by R Johnson with good flying characteristics wrt bugs and wet wings. Handling was further improved in the C model.

Over 613 Ventus A and B and an unspecified number of Ventus C were built until they were replaced in 1995 by the Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2.

pecifications (Ventus A with 15 metre wing)

aerospecs
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met or eng?= met

crew=One
capacity=160 kg (350 lb) water ballast
length m=6.35
length ft=20
length in=10
span m=15.00
span ft=49
span in=3
swept m=
swept ft=
swept in=
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rot dia m=
rot dia ft=
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dia m=
dia ft=
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width m=
width ft=
width in=
height m=1.30
height ft=4
height in=3
wing area sqm=9.5
wing area sqft=102
swept area sqm=
swept area sqft=
rot area sqm=
rot area sqft=
volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio= 23.7
wing profile= FX 79-K-144
empty weight kg=214
empty weight lb=471
gross weight kg=525
gross weight lb=1,155
lift kg=
lift lb=

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max speed kmh=250
max speed mph=160
max speed mach=
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range km=
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endurance h=
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ceiling m=
ceiling ft=
glide ratio= ca. 44
climb rate ms=
climb rate ftmin=
sink rate ms= 0.59
sink rate ftmin= 116

armament1=
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armament6= aircontent
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References

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050206183811/http://www.ssa.org/Magazines/Johnson.asp Johnson R,
A FTE of the Ventus A, Soaring, December 1981
A FTE of the Ventus B, Soaring, June 1982
A FTE of the 16.6m Ventus, Soaring, April 1984]
*Thomas F, Fundamentals of Sailplane Design, College Park Press, 1999
*Simons M, Segelflugzeuge 1965-2000, Eqip, 2004
* [http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=376 Specifications of Schempp-Hirth Ventus]