The story
The Ventus is a thoroughbred racing sailplane from Germany's Schempp-Hirth, flown in world championships and weekend cross-countries alike. Riding invisible columns of rising air, a good pilot can take one hundreds of miles and return home without ever burning a drop of fuel.
The best Ventus gliders manage glide ratios close to 50:1, almost a mile of forward travel for every 100 feet of height lost.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Ventus?
Impossibly long, slender white wings, a T-tail and a tiny cockpit pod. Circling silently under a puffy cumulus cloud is the classic sighting.
What does a Ventus sound like?
Almost nothing — a faint wind hiss overhead, which is exactly the point.
How fast is the Ventus?
Top speed is 146 kts.
How many passengers does the Ventus carry?
Up to 0. A typical layout is single-seat racing sailplane.
How big is the Ventus?
It is 21 ft 7 in long and 49-59 ft (15m/18m tips) across the wings.
When did the Ventus first fly?
Its first flight was in 1980.
How many Ventuss have been built?
1,240+ (Ventus and Ventus-2) built.
How rare is a Ventus in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first Ventus catch is worth 25 points.
