Ventus A and B Wing Root Fairings

[[email protected]]

The Ventus A and B models really need a good wing root fairing.
Schempp-Hirth realized their mistake years ago, and offered a simple
aftermarket fiberglass fairing mod kit. I installed mine during the
early 80s, and it really helped the low speed performance.
I think it may still be possible to obtain a similar fairing, and
possibly Al McDonald or someone else knows where?
Dick Johnson

[Stewart Kissel]

Before he sold his B, Al was discussing having Mansberger
build some of these if he found enough interested parties...not
sure how far he went. IIRC he lurks about here and
may post details.

Dick-

What sorta testing did you do or was it anecdotal evidence
you collected while flying?

[[email protected]]

I had wing root fairings installed on my Nimbus 3 around 1991
by Tracey Tabart (Aussie) at his Turf Soaring shop (AZ). I
believe he got the fairings from Schempp-Hirth.

wrote:
> The Ventus A and B models really need a good wing root fairing.
> Schempp-Hirth realized their mistake years ago, and offered a simple
> aftermarket fiberglass fairing mod kit. I installed mine during the
> early 80s, and it really helped the low speed performance.
> I think it may still be possible to obtain a similar fairing, and
> possibly Al McDonald or someone else knows where?
> Dick Johnson

[[email protected]]

I did not do any formal flight testing with my new factory supplied
wing root fillets, but noted that I had better control while
thermalling, and could circle tighter. I can now use landing flap when
needed in a small strong thermal, whereas before I would have great
roll control difficulty trying to use that flap setting.
I did find that these fairings are now available, at Al's website:
http://www.gliderforum.com/forum-view.asp?forumid=5
Dick Johnson

[John Sinclair]

I put a set of wing root fairings on a couple of Nimbus
3's. Quieted it down considerably. Not an easy undertaking
as it involves cutting off 4' of the flap root end,
then adding a fence followed by finish and painting.
$1500-$2000 worth of work involved.
JJ

At 16:00 05 June 2005, wrote:
> I did not do any formal flight testing with my new
>factory supplied
>wing root fillets, but noted that I had better control
>while
>thermalling, and could circle tighter. I can now use
>landing flap when
>needed in a small strong thermal, whereas before I
>would have great
>roll control difficulty trying to use that flap setting.
> I did find that these fairings are now available,
>at Al's website:
>http://www.gliderforum.com/forum-view.asp?forumid=5
> Dick Johnson
>
>

[ttaylor at cc.usu.edu]

Al should still have the molds for the fairings. I have one set of
Mansberger made fairings that came with my Ventus B when I bought it
from Al. I am strongly thinking of having them installed in the
future. I think it brings the A/B closer to the handling of the C from
what I have read. The ease in taping would also be nice.

The plane also had the winglet mod on the 16.6 tips which I think
handles better than the 15M with winglets. I am not sure, but it even
feels like it is less pitch sensitive. I would love to see new polars
on the Ventus A/B with winglets in both configurations.

Are there any good pictures on the web of the fairing mod on the Ventus
or Nimbus? I thought Jim Phoenix might have some, but never found a
good view.

Dick or JJ do you have the factory instructions anywhere still for the
modification?

Tim

Tim Taylor
Logan, Utah

[JJ Sinclair]

Don't know there ever was any instructions on adding the wing fairings.
Basically you slide the glove on each wing and then assemble the ship.
Slide the gloves inboard until they rest against the fuselage, mark
this location on the fus. Slide the fairings back and grind away the
gelcoat in the indicated area. Goop up the fairings with epoxt and flox
and slam them back in place, held with tape and things (cleco's work
well). Its important to NOT get carried away with the glue, as in don't
let it ooze down and harden on the spars and things. Musn't end up with
a permanently assembled ship. After curing, add a couple of layers of
92110 to the edges of the fairings that extend up fus a couple of
inches. Then fill-sand, prime-sand, paint-sand, buff.

One needs to be a bit careful when assembling the ship, as in don't hit
the fairing with the spar of the wing that your cramming in, then watch
the pitch of the wing as you slide the root rib into the fairing.

Its a good mod, well worth doing,
JJ

> Dick or JJ do you have the factory instructions anywhere still for the
> modification?
>
> Tim
>
> Tim Taylor
> Logan, Utah

[[email protected]]

You described the fairing installation procedure well JJ, and that is
just how I did mine.
But do not forget to describe sawing off the 4 inches of each flap
root. Otherwise it is real difficult to move the flaps.
Dick Johnson

[Chris]

Hi Dick et all

Is there a similar mod available for the Nimbus 2, I am rebuilding a Nimbus
at the moment and always thought that area could benefit from fairings,
pictures or drawings would do I can work from there.

Chris Runeckles
Western Australia

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> You described the fairing installation procedure well JJ, and that is
> just how I did mine.
> But do not forget to describe sawing off the 4 inches of each flap
> root. Otherwise it is real difficult to move the flaps.
> Dick Johnson
>

[01-- Zero One]

Yes, does anyone have pictures of these animals and the mod to the
flaps?

Thanks,

Larry
"zero one"


"Chris" > wrote in message :

> Hi Dick et all
>
> Is there a similar mod available for the Nimbus 2, I am rebuilding a Nimbus
> at the moment and always thought that area could benefit from fairings,
> pictures or drawings would do I can work from there.
>
> Chris Runeckles
> Western Australia
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > You described the fairing installation procedure well JJ, and that is
> > just how I did mine.
> > But do not forget to describe sawing off the 4 inches of each flap
> > root. Otherwise it is real difficult to move the flaps.
> > Dick Johnson
> >

[JJ Sinclair]

wrote:
> You described the fairing installation procedure well JJ, and that is
> just how I did mine.
> But do not forget to describe sawing off the 4 inches of each flap
> root. Otherwise it is real difficult to move the flaps.
> Dick Johnson

Now I know why I couldn't move the flaps on that Nimbus 3. Considered
trying to get into standard class with it, but as Dick points out, one
must remove the 4" of flap that otherwise would get trapped inside the
fairing. Then plug the open end of the flap and add a fence. I could
play a tune with my Nimbus when just moving the flaps up and
down----Weeeee-----wooooo----wrrrrr-----weeeee. This mod stopped all
that, quiet is good, right Dick?

As for the Nimbus 2 or other ships, I would consider adapting an
existing fairing to match your ship (cut and paste, trim and adapt)
Making a fairing from scratch involves a lot of up-side-down work with
urethane foam dust falling into your eyes. Most modern airfoils have a
similar curve. I did something on these lines to a 301 Libelle about
100 years ago, then made a hinged canopy, she was a hummer.
JJ

[[email protected]]

Look in the June issue of Soaring for 2 photos of the Ventus A wing
root fairings.
Fairings should about equally benefit the Nimbus 2, but that wing is
thicker, and I do not know if anyone has developed fairings for it.
Dick Johnson

[ttaylor at cc.usu.edu]

I found an image on Jim Phoenix's site of the fairing.

http://www.jimphoenix.com/jimphoenix2/pages/Nimbus/Nfuselage/subNfuselage.html

Also the last issue of Soaring Magazine has a good picture from the
rear of Dick's Ventus with the wings on so you can see the flaps.

[Bob Korves]

"JJ Sinclair" > wrote in
oups.com:

>I could
play a tune with my Nimbus when just moving the flaps up and
down----Weeeee-----wooooo----wrrrrr-----weeeee.
>

Hey JJ, my PIK-20d played the same tune. Were they in the same band?
-Bob Korves

[ttaylor at cc.usu.edu]

Dick,

I looked at my Ventus tonight and I see that the flap drive is about
two inches inboard from the end of the flap, but about four inches will
need to be cut off. How did you deal with the flap connection hardware
when you trimmed the flaps? At the upper (connection) end of the flap
is there enough room that you do have to change anything?

Thanks,

Tim

[[email protected]]

Hi Tim,
No hardware needs to be changed to install the wing root fairings,
and shortening the flap roots is easy.
Dick Johnson

[[email protected]]

I stll have the moulds for the fairing kit for Ventus B.

If anyone would like to cover my costs ($1200) on them I would be happy
to part with them.

Regards

Al

[Fish]

Al,
Please email me off list at

I am interested in the fairing moulds.

(Please renome the _no_spam from the email address.

Cheers

Mark


wrote:
> I stll have the moulds for the fairing kit for Ventus B.
>
> If anyone would like to cover my costs ($1200) on them I would be happy
> to part with them.
>
> Regards
>
> Al