Glaser-Dirks DG-400
Glaser-Dirks · Germany · first flew 1981 · light aircraft
The Glaser-Dirks DG-400 is a single-seat self-launching motorglider built by Glaser-Dirks between 1981 and 1992. It was the first self-launching motorglider with a retractable engine and propeller to be produced in large numbers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | T-tail on a slim single-seat glider fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- T-tail on a slim single-seat glider fuselage
- Retractable engine and propeller carried on a pylon
- Long 17 m wings, with 15 m tips as an option
Look for a glider with a pylon-mounted Rotax 505 engine that folds away. The wings span 17 m with the longer tips.
Specifications
- The Glaser-Dirks DG-400 has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17 m (56 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 270 km/h (168 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designer Wilhelm Dirks saw that a new carbon-fibre wing spar made it possible to carry a self-launching engine without a big penalty in weak soaring conditions. The DG-400 first flew in May 1981 and was developed from the DG-200.
Variants
The DG-400 uses the wings and most systems of the DG-202, with a modified fuselage and a slightly enlarged tailcone. It may be flown with either 15 metre or 17 metre wingtips.
Where you'll see it
About 290 were built. The type was aimed at leisure flying rather than competitions, although several world gliding records have been set with it.
Related aircraft
- Aerocar Micro-IMP
- Aerotec A-132A Tangará
- Akaflieg Stuttgart fs31 Ferdinand Porsche
- Chasle YC-10 Migrateur
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.