Anyone test fly both the JS3 and the Ventus 3?

On Monday, December 17, 2018 at 10:35:17 AM UTC-8, wrote:
I have flown the JS-3 against a Ventus 3 recently. It usually takes 3-4 thermals to leave the Ventus behind (gaining 3-400 ft per thermal). But please be aware that this in good conditions. In poorer conditions the low wing-loading of the V3 will probably be less of a handicap.

"I have flown the JS-3 against a Ventus 3 recently. It usually takes 3-4 thermals to leave the Ventus behind (gaining 3-400 ft per thermal)." That might be the case when conditions warrant 12 plus pounds wingloading. However, even the I believe, September Jonkers newsletter, told of a week day at the world championships when they went from four JS3's in the top 5 slots to one JS3 in the 5 top slots.

[ That might be the case when conditions warrant 12 plus pounds wingloading. However, even the I believe, September Jonkers newsletter, told of a week day at the world championships when they went from four JS3's in the top 5 slots to one JS3 in the 5 top slots.[/quote]

Actually that "bad day" was not that weak, and for the JS3's was more about the fact that they flew a different track/time and had zero lift on the last leg to get them home. More bad luck with respect to timing than to do with glider performance.
Both are superb sailplanes.

With FES, and my weight with chute (190lbs), the empty wing loading on the JS3 will be 8.47. The V3 would be 8.23 (the V3 is a little heavier than the JS3 which erases some of its wing loading advantage based purely on wing area). I don't think that is significant.
The performance difference is probably minor enough to not matter for me (the most I plan on doing are local competitions). The JS3 would arrive 1-2 years earlier, and has a larger cockpit. I sat in a Ventus 2A and I don't fit at all (my shoulders were getting painfully squeezed, my head was hitting the top of the canopy, and my knees were against the bottom of the instrument panel because there isn't enough leg room). I have to see if I fit in the slightly larger V3 Sport cockpit. If I don't, then I will stick with the JS3.

I am hopefully sitting in a Ventus 3 on Jan 12. We will see if I even fit, because even though I am extremely fit, I do have wide shoulders.

If I go with the Ventus, my best sustainer option will be the FES, which with me+parachute, will bring the empty wing loading to 8.23 lb/ft2 in 18M, and 9.05 in 15M. With the JS3, I can go FES with wing loading 8.47 and 9.22 respectively, or go with the lighter Jet, which with full fuel, would give wing loading more like the Ventus +FES, at 8.23 in 18M, and 8.94 in 15M......

Just an update:

I was able to fly to Texas and meet Ken Sorenson and sit in his V3. First of all, Ken was incredibly nice and accommodating to allow a complete stranger to come into town and sit in his glider for a while. I took up a lot of his time and greatly appreciate his generosity. The glider club there is also first rate, with an amazing private field and really cool club house. Those guys should be very proud of the community they have built there! Just wow!

The V3 is gorgeous. The carbon fiber interior is stunning. The cockpit is a little wider in the shoulders than the Ventus 2A. In the 2A, my shoulders were squeezed so hard it was painful. In the V3, they were barely touching the sides. The pedals don't go as far forward with the FES in the front, and it was maybe another 1/2 inch shorter still because he attached flat plates to the stock pedals for his feet. In that configuration, at 6 feet tall, I either had my head hitting the glass, or if I slid down a little in the seat, my knees hitting the underside of the dash. Without the plates on the pedals, I MIGHT have been able to fit, but with no wiggle room at all. After sitting in there 15-20 minutes, my back, butt, ankles, all hurt. I don't think I could sit in there flying for hours. In the JS1, I had an inch to spare on each side for the shoulders, and I don't remember being tight on head room. The JS3 cockpit is even bigger than the JS1 per report.. So I cancelled the V3 order and will go through with the JS3.