Superships, Past and Present

Fred Hermanspann

For glider pilots the superships – the spectacular long span, no expenses spared sailplanes that seem to be just a little bit too much for practical use – have always been of special interest because they were pushing the technical and physical boundaries of soaring.  And eventually the new ideas and innovations that were introduced on these superships and that proved their worth filtered down to the mainstream sailplanes.

Following is a list of some of the more significant superships, from Kronfeld’s Austria (1931) to the Nimeta (a Nimbus 4 fuselage and ETA wing hybrid).  This is based on a presentation at the last SGC general membership meeting (Dec. 6).

Type               year   span – m         parts       max(L/D)      OLC index         main pilot

Austria           1931     30.0                        4          30                                           Kronfeld

SB-10             1972     29.0                        5          54                   120                 (Grosse, Kohlmeyer)

ETA                 2000     30.9                        6          70?                 130                 Grosse

Nimeta          2009     30.9                        6          70+?               130                 Gantenbrink

ASW-22BLE  1994     26.6                        6          60+                 128                 (Sommer, etc.)

ASW-22DB   2006     28.0                        6          65?                 ?                      Butler

Concordia     201?     28                            6          ?                      ?                      Butler

EB-28             2007     28.3                        8          62+                 128                 (Binder)

EB-29             2009     29.3                        8          65+                 130                 (Sommer)

       Gantenbrink’s Nimeta