DG Flugzeugbau
An electrician and a glider designer started building sailplanes near Bruchsal in 1973; the DG name survived bankruptcy and now also makes parts for Volocopter’s electric air taxis.
DG Flugzeugbau: the company and the aircraft that made its name
An electrician and a designer
Glaser-Dirks was founded in 1973 in Untergrombach near Bruchsal by Gerhard Glaser, a master electrician, and Wilhelm Dirks, an aircraft designer. Their DG-100 Standard Class glider first flew in May 1974, and the DG-200 followed in 1977. The pair built a reputation on details pilots could feel: stronger front fuselages, bonded seat pans and low cockpit sills for easier bail-out. In 1981 the DG-400 motor glider added an engine with a control unit simple enough for non-mechanics, and two-seaters and 18-metre types followed.
Bankruptcy and rebirth
Engine supply trouble on the self-launching DG-800A delayed deliveries and pushed Glaser-Dirks into insolvency in spring 1996. In May that year investor Karl Friedrich Weber and his wife Eva-Marie founded DG Flugzeugbau GmbH, funding the DG-1000 two-seater and a new factory right on Bruchsal airfield, opened in December 2000. In 2003 DG absorbed the struggling Rolladen Schneider and took over its LS8 and LS10. The US Air Force Academy flies DG-1000s as the TG-16A.
Gliders meet air taxis
DG had helped Volocopter from its first prototype, lending composite and certification know-how, and in July 2021 Volocopter bought the manufacturing company, which now builds Volocopter parts. Glider development, service and sales moved to the new DG Aviation GmbH, and since 2023 the gliders are built by JSDG Production. DG Aviation looks after a fleet of more than 4,500 DG and LS aircraft.
DG Flugzeugbau in numbers
The company
- In short
- Founded 1973
- Founded as Glaser-Dirks by Gerhard Glaser and Wilhelm Dirks
- Refounded as DG Flugzeugbau in 1996 after insolvency
- Took over Rolladen Schneider in 2003
Production
- Best known for
- DG-1000
- DG-100 to DG-800 single-seaters and motor gliders
- DG-1000 two-seater, TG-16A in US Air Force service
- LS8 and LS10 from Rolladen Schneider
Today
- Now
- Owned by Volocopter
- Manufacturing arm builds Volocopter parts
- DG Aviation GmbH handles gliders, service and sales
- Over 4,500 DG and LS aircraft supported
The numbers
- Aircraft supported
- more than 4,500 DG and LS gliders
Every notable DG Flugzeugbau aircraft
| Aircraft | Role | First flight | Built | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaser-Dirks DG-100 | Standard Class glider | May 1974 | Retired | First series aircraft; also built by Elan in Slovenia | |
| Glaser-Dirks DG-200 | 15 m Class glider | 1977 | Retired | ||
| Glaser-Dirks DG-300 | Standard Class glider | Retired | |||
| Glaser-Dirks DG-400 | Self-launching motor glider | 1981 | Retired | ||
| Glaser-Dirks DG-500 | Two-seat glider | Retired | |||
| Glaser-Dirks DG-600 | 15 and 18 m glider | Retired | |||
| Glaser-Dirks DG-800 | 18 m glider and motor glider | Retired | |||
| DG-1000 | Two-seat glider | 2000 | In production | DG-1001 neo variants; TG-16A for the US Air Force | |
| LS8 | Standard Class glider | Retired | Rolladen Schneider design, built by DG after 2003 | ||
| LS10 | 15 and 18 m glider | Retired | Developed to production from a Rolladen Schneider prototype |
Where DG Flugzeugbau built, who led it, what it achieved
Factories
- Bruchsal airfield works · Bruchsal, Baden-Württemberg — Opened December 2000
People
- Wilhelm Dirks · co-founder, designer
- Karl Friedrich Weber · investor — Refounded the company in 1996
DG Flugzeugbau, year by year
Glaser-Dirks founded
DG-100 first flight
Licence deal with Elan of Slovenia
DG-400 motor glider launched
Glaser-Dirks insolvent; DG Flugzeugbau GmbH founded in May
New factory at Bruchsal airfield opens; DG-1000S first flies
Takes over Rolladen Schneider
Acquired by Volocopter; DG Aviation GmbH founded
Glider production moves to JSDG Production GmbH
Everything people ask about DG Flugzeugbau
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Around DG Flugzeugbau
Every fact, checked
Verified 2026-10-03.