Glaser-Dirks DG-500M
The two-seat Glaser-Dirks DG-500, which first flew on 19 March 1987, spawned the DG-500M variant, adding a retractable two-cylinder Rotax 535 engine behind the cockpit that lets the 22-metre-span glider launch itself and sustain flight without a tow. In 2006 a stripped DG-500M, its engine removed and replaced with liquid-oxygen bottles and pressure-suit equipment, carried Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson to 15,445 metres over Patagonia's mountain waves as the Perlan Project glider, at the time the highest a piloted, unpowered glider had ever flown. In everyday use, the same airframe served as a conventional two-seat trainer and competition glider for clubs worldwide.
Did you know?
The M is the self-launch version of the DG-500 two-seater, with a retractable Rotax engine that folds into the fuselage.
Specifications
| Length | 8.6 m (28 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.8 t |
| Stall speed | 35 kt (65 km/h) |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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