Some people that own Nimbus 3's do not connect the tip spoilers because
they say the effect is negligible. I connect them on mine, but I can't
really say how effective they are - they only come up in the second
half of stick input. I believe the Nimbus 4 arrangement with the tip
spoilers connected to the rudder makes much more sense as I almost
always use much more rudder than aileron when turning into a thermal.

More effective than the tip spoilers is to minimize adverse yaw in the
Nimbeast 3 with easy, patient roll rate - in other words, the faster
and farther I move the ailerons, the quicker I run out rudder - at
thermal speeds.

Once settled into the thermal, it's easy to keep on an even keel, but
it does like to overbank if you let it.

Occasionally, on bad thermal days I can move the ailerons and rudder as
much as I want and the beast just does not want to go where I want it
to!! Swearing seems to help. Other days, it's easy as pie. Probably
more to do with the control system located between the headsets than
anything else.

In any case, a little adverse yaw, overbanking and leg exercises
(rudder dancing) are a small price to pay for the horsepower available
in this glider. Someday I'll learn how to use it's potential - and I
have a lot to learn.

Jim




Bert Willing wrote:
Nimbus 3/4 have these spoilers because otherwise the rudder would
need to be
substantially larger to provide sufficient yaw authority. Larger
rudder =
more drag all the time, little spoiler = a little more drag only
during the
beginning of a turn.

--
Bert Willing

ASW20 "TW"