Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4

Schempp-Hirth · Germany · first flew 1990 · glider

The Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4 is a high-performance Open Class sailplane from Germany, offering an exceptional glide ratio and long wingspan for cross-country soaring competitions. It is available in single- and two-seat versions.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	T-tail with slim fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Unpowered sailplane — no engine
Extremely long-span Open Class glider at 26.5 m
T-tail with slim fuselage

An extremely long, slender sailplane with a span of 26.5 m; the T-tail, slim fuselage and highly tapered wings with winglets make it instantly identifiable as a high-performance Open Class glider.

Specifications

The Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4 has a length of 7.83 m (26 ft).
It has a wingspan of 26.5 m (87 ft).
Its maximum speed is 280 km/h (174 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Introduced in 1990, the Nimbus-4 represented the pinnacle of Open Class glider development at the time, with a glide ratio exceeding 60:1. It was designed around the requirement to carry large water ballast loads for high-speed cross-country flight and has been used at world championship level. The Nimbus-4DM added a sustainer motor for self-launching.

Variants

The Nimbus-4 is the standard single-seat version; the Nimbus-4D is the two-seat variant, and the Nimbus-4DM adds a retractable sustainer engine for self-launching.

Where you'll see it

Used by competition pilots worldwide in Open Class events; the type remains in active use at club and national competition level.

Related aircraft

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