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Shorts Nimbus

Here you will find new plan info looking for builders.
Barry_Cole

Re: Shorts Nimbus

Post by Barry_Cole »

More likely at an aerotow. That is me in the background with my Cub, but not sure where. Pre 2010 for sure.

BC
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chris williams
Posts: 1549
Joined: 10 Mar 2015, 10:50
Location: Blandford Dorset

Re: Shorts Nimbus

Post by chris williams »

Siege Cross...and, as I recall, he didn't fly it
simon_t
Posts: 89
Joined: 17 Mar 2015, 21:45
Location: Herne Bay, Kent

Re: Shorts Nimbus

Post by simon_t »

An excellent and interesting subject. I work in the factory where it was built, on the airfield where it was flown. Back in the 60’s I used to regularly visit John Lankester-Parker who was Shorts Chief test pilot and did first flight (by the time I was visiting he had retired to run a country hotel at Workington, Suffolk). I still regularly meet with both his daughters, who are family friends. Lankester-Parker’s accumulated papers from Shorts now reside at the RAF Museum Hendon, but I don’t know if there is any documentation on this subject.

Although a nice looking glider it wasn’t successful due problems with flow separation at the wing root, as a result of the acute join angle of the low gull wing. Unfortunately that was never resolved.

Looking forward to seeing the plans, and maybe a future build subject.

Simon
Mark Erwood

Re: Shorts Nimbus

Post by Mark Erwood »

That is a subject that I had never heard of. I can see the need for a wing root fairing but it will be interesting to see how the model flies. Maybe one for the future!
simon_t
Posts: 89
Joined: 17 Mar 2015, 21:45
Location: Herne Bay, Kent

Re: Shorts Nimbus

Post by simon_t »

Cliff, you have done well digging out documentation, and the remains of the full size - sad to see it in that state, but to be honest I didn’t know it survived at all. I’m sure aircraft have been restored from worse condition, but it would be costly. I don’t think any the daughters will have any data to photos any more. There was a historical book on Shorts published last year I think (my mother has a copy and spoke to the author), but I don’t recall seeing anything on the Nimbus in there, and the only other photos are in the C H Barnes book on Shorts history, ‘Shorts aircraft since 1900’ - I assume you have already seen that.

Simon
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VinceC
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Re: Shorts Nimbus

Post by VinceC »

simon_t - once you start looking, it is amazing what turns up and your friends hopefully may have information. Thanks for the name of the test pilot, I will add that in the Docs. Here is a photo taken on or around the first flight in 1946/7, maybe you can identify the test pilot
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The Short Nimbus being demonstrated for the first time at Rochester Airport 3rd April 1947..jpg
Nimbus Zoom.png
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VinceC
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Re: Shorts Nimbus

Post by VinceC »

Here it is in the livery
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N-2.jpg
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