DG-100
Role	Club class (formerly Standard class) sailplane
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Glaser-Dirks/DG Flugzeugbau
Designed by	Wilhelm Dirks
First flight	1973
Number built	327

The DG-100 of 1973 is the first sailplane (glider) type manufactured by Glaser-Dirks. Designed by Wilhelm Dirks and built of glass-reinforced plastic (fiberglass), the first model had an all-flying tailplane and a two-piece canopy (movable and fixed parts). The original DG-100 was superseded by the DG-100G, DG-101 and DG-101G. Most models came equipment with water ballast bags in the wings.

Cockpit of a Glaser-Dirks DG-101G ELAN (click for details)

The DG-101 and DG-101G had improvements such as a single piece front hinged canopy, improved crash resistant cockpit and a conventional tailplane (with fixed horizontal stabilizer and moveable elevator). There was also a club version of this sailplane with fixed gear. All models featured top surface only air brakes.

Some later models were also manufactured by the Elan company in Slovenia and can be identified by the word "ELAN" on the fuselage and rudder. The serial number of these gliders contain a leading "E".

Although DG-100/101 series of gliders was designed in the seventies, they are still popular in the Club class and remains competitive in Sports class contests (which are handicapped).

The wing's control surface hookups are non-automatic and utilize L'Hotellier fittings. These fittings must be secured by a secondary means such as a safety pin, safety wire, Uerling Sleeves or Wedekind Sleeves (See this web page for more details on this subject).

After the bankruptcy of Glaser-Dirks the new founded company DG Flugzeugbau GmbH took over the service for these gliders.

[edit] Specifications (DG-100)

General characteristics

• Crew: One pilot
• Capacity: 100 kg (220 lb) water ballast
• Length: 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 3 in)
• Height: 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 11.0 m² (118 ft²)
• Aspect ratio: 20.5
• Empty weight: ca. 230 kg (510 lb)
• Gross weight: 418 kg (919 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 260 km/h (160 mph)
• Maximum glide ratio: 37
• Rate of sink: 0.59 m/s (116 ft/min)

[edit] Serial Numbering

WERKNUMMERN-SYSTEN FÜR SEGELFLUGZEUGE UND MOTORSEGLER
System of Serial Numbers for Glider and Motorglider

Example Serial Number: E.102.G.72

E - ELAN Manufacturer
102 - 102nd DG-100 ever built
G - DG-100G series
72 - 72nd built with damped elevator

[edit] References

• DG-Flugzeugbau DG-100 Technical Notes
• Johnson R, An Flight Test Evaluation of the DG-101G, Soaring, May 1985
• Sailplane Directory
• Images of DG-101G ELAN