| Glaser-Dirks DG-400 |
|
The DG-400 designed by Wilhelm Dirks, which first flew in 1981, is a self-launching development of the unpowered DG-202. It has 15 m. wings and add-on tips to increase the span to 17 m. Construction is of an all carbon wing and fiberglass fuselage/tail. An electric extension-retraction system deploys the dual-ignition 2 cycle engine. Accompanying data are for the 17. M version. Without the tip extensions, the 15 m. version carries 20 kg / 43 lb. More payload, but with higher sink rate (0.60 m/s / 1.97 fps / 1.17 kt ) and lower L/D (41). B. Brunzil of Switzerland raised the world 500 km speed triangle record to 170.06 kph/ 91.8 kt/ 105.7 mph flying a DG-400. Over 250 of the type have been built.
| Span | 17 | m |
| Length | 7 | m |
| Height | 0.8 | m |
| Wing Area | 10.57 | m² |
| Wing Section | Wortmann FX67-K-170-17 root FX-60-K-126 tip | |
| Aspect Ratio | 27.3 | |
| Empty Glider Mass | 310 | kg |
| All-Up Mass | 460 | kg |
| Water Ballast | 70 | kg |
| Engine | 32 kW/ 43 bhp Rotax 505 | |
| Wing Loading | 43.52 | kg./m² |
| Maximum L/D | 45 | |
| Stalling Speed | 40 | kt |
| Minimum Sinking Speed | 0.50 | m/s |
| Max. Rough Air Speed | 103 | kt |
| Never Exceed Speed | 146 | kt |
A recent addition to the fleet at Bacchus Marsh, HDE is the 58th DG-400 to be produced, and was imported from the Glasser-Dirks factory in Germany in 1984 for private use. It has been operated, mainly from Warrnambool, by its original owner up until September 1999. The sailplane has been very well cared for and has logged a total of only 620 hours (and 115 engine hours). The Rotax 505 engine provides a take-off roll of less than 200 m (at maximum take off weight, zero wind and dry grass) and a climb rate of around 600 feet/minute. Its new owner is installing a Cambridge variometer/flight computer/GPS/flight recorder and electronic-demand oxygen system, with the aim of undertaking many cross-country and wave flights.
Geelong Gliding Club Inc. ©1997-2006
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