DG Flugzeugbau
DG Flugzeugbau GmbH is a manufacturer of sailplanes and other composite parts based in Bruchsal near Karlsruhe, Germany.
The business was founded in 1973 by Gerhard Glaser and Wilhelm Dirks as Glaser-Dirks Flugzeugbau GmbH.
The Glaser-Dirks company produced the following gliders:
- DG-100 (Standard Class)
- DG-200 (15 metre Class)
- DG-300 (Standard Class)
- DG-400 (Self-launching motor glider)
- DG-500 (Two seater)
- DG-600 (15 metre and 18 meter Class)
History
In 1978 an alliance was made with the Elan Company of Slovenia to increase production capacity. The cooperation ended in 2006.
In 2000 DG Flugzeugbau built a new factory and moved to the Bruchsal airfield.
In 2003 DG took over the assets of Rolladen Schneider including the LS brand name and designs.
In 2009 the company proposed a highly controversial annual charge to the owners of aircraft that had been built by the bankrupt predecessor companies. This charge is said to be for the documentation that is needed to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft that DG Flugzeugbau had never built themselves.
In 2010 the company officially expanded the production program to articles other than sailplanes. Since then a wide range of composite articles as well as engineering activities are offered.
Gliders in production
DG Flugzeugbau currently produces:
- DG-808 (15 metre and 18 metre)
- DG-1000 (Two seater)
- Rolladen-Schneider LS8, (Standard Class with optional wing-tips to increase the span to 18 metres.)
- LS10 (15 metre and 18 metre Class)
Ownership
The Glaser-Dirks company ran into financial trouble in 1996 because the engine planned for the DG-800B was no longer available and no replacement could be found. The assets of the bankrupt company were bought by Friedel Weber and his wife Eva-Marie Weber. They founded the new company "DG Flugzeugbau GmbH". Dirks stayed on as chief designer until 2012 and was succeeded by Jelmer Wassenaar. Friedel Weber as well as Holger Back are managing the company.
External links
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