M.Hardy. Gliders & Sailplanes of the world

Glaser-Dirks DG-100

  The DG-100 Standard Class single-seater is a modified and lighter weight development of the Akaflieg Darmstadt D-38 glass-reinforced plastic sailplane, which first flew in February 1973. It displayed better performance ДальшеMore>>> and handling qualities than expected and so its designer, Dipl-Ing Wilhelm Dirks, sought the necessary backing to develop a production version. With Gerhard Glaser he founded the Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH and the DG-100, design of which had begun in August 1973, first flew in prototype form on 10 May 1974, a mere nine months later. A total of 102 DG-100s had been delivered by the beginning of 1978, plus a further 15 examples of the DG-100G, first flown on 11 June 1976. This is generally similar to the DG-100 except that its tailplane and elevators are similar to those of the later DG-200. Production of the DG-100 series was transferred to the Yugoslav firm Elan, who have been building the DG-100 under licence since the autumn of 1978. The DG-100 itself is basically very similar to the D-38 but with a lighter plastic foam supporting the glassfibre skin instead of the balsa wood used in the D-38, and the latter's rounded nose has been replaced by a more pointed nose of better aerodynamic shape. The DG-100 Club version for club flying is available with either an all-moving tailplane or conventional tailplane like the DG-100G's and a fixed monowheel. The cantilever shoulder wings each have a glassfibre roving main spar and are of glassfibre/Conticell/foam sandwich construction, as are the ailerons and the tailplane. Instead of flaps, there are Schempp-Hirth duralumin air brakes oin the upper wing surfaces; these are considered to be cheaper to make and lighter than flaps, as well as being simpler to operate for landing. Up to 220lb of water ballast can be carried in two wing tanks, and this can be jettisoned in flight. The semi-monocoque fuselage is an all glassfibre structure, as are the fin and rudder. The prototype DG-100 had an all moving tailplane with a large anti-servo tab, and production aircraft have a similar tailplane with a full-span trimmable anti-Flettner tab. The manually-retractable monowheel has a drum brake, and there is a tailwheel. The pilot sits in a semi-reclining position under a two-piece cockpit canopy, the rear section of which is hinged to open upwards and backwards, the adjustable headrest being attached to the canopy hinge. Current production versions are the DG-101, DG-101G and DG-101G Club, which now have the forward-opening one-piece canopy of the DG-202.


Data: DG-100
Span: 49 ft 2 1/2 in
Length: 22 ft 11 3/4 in
Height: 4 ft 7 in
Wing area: 118.4 sqft
Aspect ratio: 20.5
Empty weight: 507 lb
Max weight: 921 Ib
Max speed: 161 mph (smooth air)
Max aero-tow speed: 102.5 mph
Min sinking speed: 1.94 ft/sec at 46 mph
Best glide ratio: 39.2:1 at 65 mph



Glaser-Dirks DG-200 FGR

  To meet the demand for a sailplane with flaps for the Unrestricted Class 15m International competitions the DG-200 was developed, the prototype making its first flight on 22 April 1977. This has the same 15m span wing with glassfibre flaps added, the Schempp-Hirth air brakes being retained; wing area was slightly reduced, and the water ballast capacity was increased to 287lb. The fuselage and tail unit are the same as the DG-100's. The tailplane is a glassfibre/foam sandwich, with an all-glassfibre elevator, and the ailerons are also of glassfibre; construction is otherwise the same as the DG-100. A total of 20 DG-200s had been delivered by early 1978. The DG-200/17 is a 17m span version of the DG-200 created by adding special insertable wing tips to the DG-200. The DG-200 Acroracer is an aerobatic version of the DG-200 with detachable wing tips that reduce the span to 13.1m (42ft 11 3.4 in); these can be replaced to bring the span up to 15m. The prototype Acroracer first flew on 28 November 1978, but was the only one of this variant built.
  The DG-200C is similar to the DG-200 but has carbon-fibre spar booms, wing skin and flaps. The DG-200/17C is the same as the DG-200/17 but has the DG-200C's carbon-fibre wing structure. Altogether 89 DG-200s had been built by April 1980.
  The 15m span DG-202, which first flew in prototype form on 30 April 1980, is very similar to the DG-200 but has an improved cockpit and controls, a large one-piece forward-opening canopy, automatic tailplane connection and an improved water ballast system. The DG-202/17 has detachable wing tips to bring the span up to 17m and the DG-202/17C has carbon-fibre in the wing structure and a carbon-fibre spar.


Data: DG-200
Span: 49 ft 2 1/2 in
Length: 22 ft 11 3.4 in
Height: 4 ft 7 in
Wing area: 107.6 sqft
Aspect ratio: 22.5
Empty weight: 529 lb
Max weight: 992 lb
Max speed: 168 mph (smooth air)
Max aero-tow speed: 118 mph
Min sinking speed: 1.8 ft/sec at 45 mph
Best glide ratio: 42.5:1 at 68.5 mph



Glaser-Dirks DG 400

  The DG400 is a single-seater motor glider version of the DG202, with a dorsally-mounted 43hp Rotax engine driving a tractor airscrew and electrically retractable backwards into the fuselage. Fuel capacity is 4.5 Imp gallons, with optional extra fuel tanks in each wing. Detachable wing tips can be fitted to the DG400/15 to increase the span to 17m for Open Class competition, in which form it becomes the DG400/17. The DG400 prototype first flew in May 1981 in the hands of Walter Binder, and first production deliveries are planned for December 1981.


Span: DG400/15 49 ft 2 1/2 in
   DG 400/17 55 ft 9in
Length: 23 ft 0 in
Empty weight: DG 400/15 595 lb
   DG400/17 610 lb
Max take-off weight: DG 400/15 1,058 lb
   DG400/17 992 lb

Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation

Glaser-Dirks DG-100 and DG-200 (Germany)
   The DG-100 single-seat Standard Class sailplane is currently built under licence in Yugoslavia by Elan. Production in both countries totalled 105 by late 1978. The DG-200 is an improved model with wing flaps and was developed for unlimited international competition.