Flight Notes— how to fly the DG-808S
Soaring (tow planes, thermals, and ridge lift)

The DG-808S Competition is a lightweight, high-performance sailplane constructed with composite materials. Manufactured by DG Flugzeugbau GmbH in Bruchsal, Germany, it is the latest in a line of gliders built over the last thirty years. It features a sophisticated water ballast system that allows the pilot to tailor wing loading to prevailing weather conditions.

In weak thermals, the large surface area of the sailplane's 59-foot (18-meter) wingspan makes for high lift and good climb performance without ballast. In heavier weather, the DG-808S Competition's combination of low weight and high strength allows it to take off at more than twice its empty weight with enough ballast to soar in strong thermals. In all conditions, its upswept winglets increase the sailplane's already excellent glide ratio. These advanced features make the DG-808S Competition a winning performer under a larger variety of conditions than most of its competitors.

Specifications

	U.S.	Metric
Maximum Speed	146 knots (168 mph)	270 km/h
Engine	none
Glide Ratio	50 to 1
Empty Weight	578 pounds	262 kilograms
Maximum Gross Weight	1,321 pounds	600 kilograms
Length	22 feet, 6 inches	6.86 meters
Height	4 feet, 6.5 inches	1.39 meters
Wingspan	59 feet	18 meters
Wing Area	127.1 square feet	11.81 square meters
Aspect Ratio	27.43
Maximum Sink	92 ft/min	.047 m/sec
Seating	1
Useful Load	743 pounds	338 kilograms