# Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2c (18m)

The Ventus 2 series of gliders have been very successful in both 15 metre and 18 metre championships since production began in 1994. The Ventus 2C was aimed at the 18 metre span category and was provided with polyhedral wings and interchangable tips with winglets, so that it could be flown in the Fifteen Metre Class as well.

The fuselage is a shell of carbon, kevlar and glass fibres in epoxy resins. The cockpit area is specially strenghtened to provide greater safety for the pilot in an accident, and is mostly glass and kevlar, which does not shatter dangerously on impact as carbon tends to do.

The wings are almost entirely of CRP and there are ballast tanks extending over the whole span, in the leading edges in front of the main spar. The total ballast capacity is 210 kg. The Ventus 2 can be flown at wing loadings up to 54 kg/sq m. Ailerons and flaps are coupled and may be best called flaperons. That is, not only do the ailerons work with the flaps, being drooped or raised together, but the flaps also move as ailerons. Lateral control is exceptionally good, even when the ballast tanks, running out the the tip are full.

The Ventus 2 soon realized its potential. In the 1995 World Championships, Eric Napopleon of France placed first in his Ventus 2, Justin Wills of England was second in an LS6, but there were 5 Ventus 2 in the first ten. The list of contest achievements has continued to grow impressively with successes in World Championships in 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. All three top places were taken by the Ventus 2C at the World Championships in the Eighteen Metre Class in 2003.

Information used with kind permission from the book "Sailplanes 1965-2000" by Martin Simons, EQIP publishing.

## Technical Data

Geometry
Wing Span | 18m/59.06ft
Wing Area | 11.0m² / 118.4 ft²
Aspect Ratio | 29.5
Fuselage length | 6.7 m / 21.9 ft
Fuselage height | 0.85 m / 2.79 ft
Weight
Empty Weight | 257 kg / 566 lb
Maximum Weight | 525 kg / 1157 lb
Waterballast | 210 l / 55.5 USgal
Min. Wing Loading | 29.8 kg/m² / 6.1 lb/ft²
Max. Wing Loading | 47.7 kg/m² / 9.77 lb/ft²
Gliding Performance
Best L/D | Not yet measured
Min. Sink | 0.49m/s / 1.58ft/s
Stall Speed | 71km/h / 38.3kt
Max. Permitted Speed | 270 km/h / 146 kt

## Further Info

- Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH: http://www.schempp-hirth.com