Schempp-Hirth Ventus-3
| Ventus-3 | |
|---|---|
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| Schempp-Hirth Ventus 3 glider at Lasham Airfield | |
| Role | 18 metre-class sailplane |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Schempp-Hirth |
| First flight | 2016 |
| Number built | 4 |
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The Schempp-Hirth Ventus-3 is a sailplane produced by Schempp-Hirth. It will replace the highly successful Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2.
Design and development
It was announced at the AERO Friedrichshafen in April 2015 where a mock-up was suspended from the ceiling of the exhibition hall. The prototype flew on 29 January 2016 at Flugplatz Hahnweide at Kirchheim unter Teck in Germany. The prototype was originally a pure glider but it has since been fitted with a sustaining turbo motor. Serial production started on 28 April 2016.
Production models will be available as a pure glider or with a sustaining engine, self-launching engine or a front-end electric sustaining engine. Two sizes of fuselage will be available called Sport and Performance; the latter is larger. The design of the Performance fuselage has not yet been finalised. Currently it is only planned to use the large fuselage for the self-launching 'M' version, though this decision may be revisited later if there is a demand for other engine options. Longer wing-tips will not be offered, but 15m tips will be.
Features include 'bug-wiper' garages recessed in the fuselage. There are two ballast tanks (one 58 litres and one 38 litres) in each wing which are filled from the wing-tip and two tanks in the fin
Specifications (Ventus-3 with 18m wings)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: kg ( lb) water ballast
- Length: 6.63 (Sport) m (21 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 18.00 m (59 ft 0.7 in)
- Wing area: 10.84 m2 (116.68 ft2)
- Empty weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
- Gross weight: 600 kg (1323 lb) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 280 km/h (174 mph)
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schempp-Hirth Ventus. |