The DG-505 Elan Orion is a two seat glider for training, high performance flying and aerobatics. It can perform basic training, fly a speed triangle with 20 m span, 160 liters of water ballast and a glide ratio of 44 and train aerobatics with 17.2 m span. The designation DG-505 marks the development of the DG-500 and features various major improvements, in particular the cockpit space was increased to enable pilots up to 2 m to fly from either seat.
18 m wing tips for flying characteristics equal to the DG-505 Elan Trainer are available as an option. Operators who own already a DG-505 Elan Trainer can use the Orion with 18 m span without different flying characteristics.
With the standard wing tip extensions the wingspan can be increased to 20 m for high performance and competition flying.
The winglets at the 20 m tips make possible almost as good a performance as with 22 m wingspan (comparison flights with a 22 m DG-505 showed that at same wing loading there is only a performance decrease of 3 % although the wingspan is reduced by 10%). In addition the winglets which are permanently installed to the wing tip extensions improve the excellent handling qualities. The sweep back of the wing tip extensions provides further improvement of low speed performance and handling, both important benefits for thermalling.
Variation:
Windward Performance Perlan I
Wingspan: 18.0 m./ 59.1 ft
Wing area: 16.6 sq. m. / 178.6 sq.ft
Aspect ratio 19.52
Airfoil Wortmann FX-73-K-170/20 root; -170/22 tip.
Water ballast 160 kg / 353 lb
Structure CFRP/GFRP.
Crew: ½
DG Flugzeugbau DG505 Elan Orion
Wingspan: 20 m
Max T/O weight: 750 kg
Glide ratio: 44
Cruise speed: 110 km/h
Max speed: 270 km/h
Crew: 2
Wingspan: 22.00 m./ 72.2 ft
Wing area: 8.29 sq.m./ 196.8 sq.ft
Aspect ratio 19.52
Airfoil Wortmann FX-73-K-170/20 root; -170/22 tip.
Aspect Ratio: 26.5
Length: 8.66m
Height: 1.66m
Empty Weight: 550Kg
Gross Weight: 825Kg
Water ballast 160 kg / 353 lb
Min Sink: 0.58m/s
Glide Ratio: 44
Stall speed: 80Km/h
VNE: 270Km/h
G: 5.3/-2.65
Structure CFRP/GFRP.
Crew: ½
All Aero 