Glaser-Dirks DG-500

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Glaser-Dirks/
DG Flugzeugbau DG-500/505
A DG-505 ridge soaring in Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Type designation	DG-500 / DG-505
Competition class	Two Seater Class
Number built
Crew	2
Length
Height
Cockpit width
Cockpit height
Wingspan	18/20/22 m
Wing area
Aspect ratio
Wing profile
Empty mass
Water ballast	160 kg (except 18m)
Tail water ballast
Maximum mass	615 kg (18m) / 750 kg (22m)
Wing loading
Maximum speed	270 km/h
Speed in rough air
Stall speed
Minimum sink rate
Best glide ratio	45 at 103 km/h (18 m) 47 at 95 km/h (22 m)
Roll rate (-45 to +45 bank)

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. The glider is a trainer with an 18 metre wingspan or a high-performance glider with 20 or 22 m span. The 22-metre version also has wing flaps. 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 main landing gear (a single wheel) for both versions is retractable (into the lower fuselage).

The DG-500/18 is mainly intended for flight training, and is fully aerobatic with +7/-5 g-unit rating. There is also a motorglider version, the DG-500M. The DG-500/22 can carry up to 160 kg of water ballast which is not possible on the trainer version. Only one DG-500/22 was built without an auxiliary power plant.

Since 2004, the latest version of the DG-500 has been built as the "DG-505 Orion" in Slovenia.

[edit] Specifications

DG-500/18 m: Wingspan: 18 m, hull length: 8.66 m, empty mass: 380 kg, max. flying mass: 615 kg, ballast water: not available, top speed: 270 km / h, best glide: 45 at 103 km/h

DG-500/22 m: Wingspan: 22 m, hull length: 8.66 m, empty mass: 445 kg max. flying mass: 750 kg, ballast water: 160 liters, top speed: 270 km / h, best glide: 47 at 95 km / h