Glaser-Dirks DG-500

DG-500
A DG-505 ridge soaring in Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Role	Two Seater Class sailplane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Glaser-Dirks
|} The Glaser-Dirks DG-500, and later the DG-505, is a two-seat glider of glass-reinforced plastic and carbon fiber reinforced plastic construction, manufactured in the DG Flugzeugbau GmbH in Bruchsal, Germany. Design The glider is a trainer with an 18 metre wingspan or a high-performance glider with 20 or 22 m span. The 20 and 22-metre versions also have winglets. The fuselage is the same in all versions, with the exception of the additional control connections for the wing flaps in the 22-metre version. The single wheel main landing gear on both versions retracts into the lower fuselage. The DG-500/18 is mainly intended for flight training, and is fully aerobatic with +7/-5 g rating. There is also a motorglider version, the DG-500M.[1] The DG-500/22 can carry up to 160 kg of water ballast which is not possible on the trainer version. Since 2004, the latest version of the DG-500 has been built as the "DG-505 Orion" in Slovenia. Altitude record The DG-500 holds the all-time altitude record for manned gliders, at 15,460 m (50,720 ft), on 29 August 2006 by Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson, breaking the previous record by 1,713 ft (522 m).[2] It was a standard DG-500M but the engine had been removed and replaced with liquid oxygen tanks. Additional instruments were installed powered by non-rechargeable batteries. The canopy had double-wall glazing and there was a drogue parachute for an emergency descent from high altitude. Pressure suits were worn.[3] The glider is on display at the Seattle Museum of Flight.[4] The program's second effort at high-altitude gliding is under development with an all new design, the Windward Performance Perlan II. Variants DG-500 Initial production with 18 m (59 ft) span wings. DG-500/18 Aerobatic version DG-500/22 high performance sailplane with 22 m (72 ft) span wings DG-500M Motorglider version of the DG-500, powered by a retractable pylon mounted 44.7 kW (59.9 hp) Rotax 535C engine DG-500T Elan Trainer 18 m (59 ft) span wings, fixed undercarriage, no flaps, full controls in both cockpits.[5] DG-505 improved DG-500 DG-505 Orion Production version built in Slovenia DG-505MB Motorglider version of the DG-505 with a retractable Solo Kleinmotoren 2625-02 47 kW (63 hp) engine Specifications (Elan Trainer) Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89,[5][6] General characteristics Crew: 2 Length: 8.66 m (28 ft 5 in) Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in) Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) Wing area: 16.6 m^2 (179 sq ft) Aspect ratio: 19.52 Airfoil: root:Wortmann FX-73-K-170/20; tip:FX-73-K-170/22 Empty weight: 390 kg (860 lb) Max takeoff weight: 630 kg (1,389 lb) Performance Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph; 35 kn) at 470 kg (1,040 lb) Never exceed speed: 270 km/h (168 mph; 146 kn) in smooth air 197 km/h (106 kn; 122 mph) in rough air 197 km/h (106 kn; 122 mph) on aero-tow 140 km/h (76 kn; 87 mph) on winch launch g limits: +5.3 - 2.65 Maximum glide ratio: 40 at 109 km/h (59 kn; 68 mph) Wing loading: 37.95 kg/m^2 (7.77 lb/sq ft) See also Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus Related lists List of gliders References First flight of the DG-500M was in March 1987. "Perlan Project web site". Retrieved 2 February 2012. "DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Perlan Glider". Retrieved 15 November 2013. John W.R. Taylor, ed. (1988). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. London: Jane's Information Group. pp. 620–621. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5. "DG Flugzeugbau DG-500". sailplanedirectory.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015. External links Manufacturer web site