Glaser-Dirks DG-300

DG-300
A DG-300 at Sintra Air Force Base, Portugal
Role Club-class (previously Standard-class) sailplane
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH
Designer Wilhelm Dirks
First flight 1983
Number built 511


The Glaser-Dirks DG-300 is a Standard Class single-seat high-performance glider built of glass-reinforced plastic. The DG-300 was designed by Wilhelm Dirks and manufactured by Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau's Slovenian partner company Elan (company). A total of 511 of all versions were built since production started in 1983. Representative contemporary types from competing manufacturers are the Rolladen-Schneider LS4 and the Schempp-Hirth Discus.

Design and development

The DG-300 has a flapless wing with triple taper based on the Falcon designed by Hansjörg Streifeneder, and employs the HQ 21/II, a relatively thick profile (ca. 17.5%). This wing is 'blown' on the underside by 900 small holes to achieve a controlled transition from laminar to turbulent flow without additional drag. However, these holes are prone to clogging due to dirt, moisture and wing surface polishing, which makes them less effective over time. As with any racing glider, the thickness of the wing makes it relatively sensitive to performance degradation due to contamination by insect impacts or rain drops.

It is agile and a good climber, but slightly underperforms compared to its competitors in cruising flight, especially at higher speeds. The later DG-303 version with a new wing profile and winglets was developed that delivers higher performance at low to medium speeds plus increased aileron response. A fully aerobatic version (the Acro) was also sold, stressed for +7/-5g.

The DG-300 has typical DG features, which improve comfort and safety if at a performance cost. It has the large cockpit typical of DG giving excellent comfort, especially in high-altitude flight where the full-length canopy allows the feet to be warmed by sunlight. The view from the cockpit is superb, adding to the pleasure and safety of flight.

After the bankruptcy of Glaser-Dirks the newly founded DG Flugzeugbau GmbH took over the servicing of these gliders.

The operational limits were changed on April 2007 after a defect was detected on the main spar. Aerobatic flight since then is not permitted, even for the Acro versions.

Major features

Variants

DG-300 Elan
Initial production version
DG-300 Club Elan
With fixed undercarriage for club use
DG-300 Elan Acro
Fully aerobatic (restricted from aerobatic flight after 2007,unless you let DG do a resurge of the wing)
DG-303 Elan
With a new aerofoil section and optional winglets; available in standard, club and acro versions, built by the Slovenian company AMS-Flight until end of 2006

Specifications (DG-303 Elan)

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to DG-300.
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