Glaser-Dirks DG-500
6 on the U.S. register across 2 versions the FAA records separately. Built from 1990 to 1997; half of them date from 1995 or earlier. Washington has the most (2). 33% are registered to companies, flight schools, clubs and other organisations; the rest to individuals, who are not named here at this time.
About the DG-500 from the FAA's model table
- Type
- Glider · Gliders
- Power
- Piston (reciprocating), 1 engine
- Common engines
- Bombardier Rotax (All) (4), Ama/Expr Unknown Eng (1)
- Fuel
- 100LL avgas
- Seats
- 2
- Built of
- composite · A glass-fibre glider.
- Maker on the register
- Glaser-Dirks
- Registered
- earliest certificate January 16, 1998; newest March 3, 2025
Where they are owner's state
Who owns them registrant type
By owner type, as a table
| aircraft | share | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | 4 | 67% |
| LLC | 1 | 17% |
| Corporation | 1 | 17% |
Versions as the FAA records them · click one to list only those aircraft
| Version | Registered | Built | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| DG-500M | 5 | 1990 to 1995 | 83.3% |
| DG 500 ELAN | 1 | 1997 | 16.7% |
Airworthiness certificate class
By airworthiness certificate, as a table
| aircraft | share | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 3 | 50% |
| Restricted | 1 | 17% |
| None on file | 1 | 17% |
| Experimental | 1 | 17% |
Biggest operators companies, schools and clubs
Largest fleets, as a table
| aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Wxca LLC | 1 |
| Museum of Flight Foundation | 1 |
Fleet pages: Museum of Flight Foundation
Accident history NTSB records · 1 cases since 1982, 0 fatal
The 1 most recent of 1 cases where the NTSB's make and model match this family's versions. Each aircraft's own page also shows its record. How this model compares with others, with the fleet taken into account: Accidents by model in Aviation Analytics.
Questions people ask answers refresh every morning
How many Glaser-Dirks DG-500 aircraft are registered in the U.S.?
6 as of November 9, 2026, counting 2 versions the FAA records separately.
Which state has the most Glaser-Dirks DG-500s?
Washington, with 2.
Who owns the Glaser-Dirks DG-500?
33% are registered to companies, flight schools, clubs and other organisations; the rest to individuals and co-owners, who are not named on this site at this time.
When were the Glaser-Dirks DG-500s on the register built?
Between 1990 and 1997; half of them in 1995 or earlier.
How many Glaser-Dirks DG-500 accidents has the NTSB recorded?
1 accidents and incidents since 1982, 0 of them fatal. A model flown more shows more; the accident analytics compare models per thousand registered.
What is the Glaser-Dirks DG-500 made of?
The airframe is composite: carbon fibre or glass fibre set in resin, moulded in large pieces with few joints, which gives smooth shapes but needs different inspection and repair methods from metal. A glass-fibre glider. The FAA's type certificate data sheet is the authority for any one model.
What the FAA has certified, ordered and been told about the Glaser-Dirks DG-500 the component layer
The airframe is composite: carbon fibre or glass fibre set in resin, moulded in large pieces with few joints, which gives smooth shapes but needs different inspection and repair methods from metal. A glass-fibre glider. The design is held under 2 type certificates. The FAA has issued 27 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this model, most of them about engine.
FAA orders 27 airworthiness directives · newest first
All orders naming the Glaser-Dirks DG-500
By system
Orders by system, as a table
| orders | share | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 11 | 41% |
| Flight controls | 4 | 15% |
| Propeller | 3 | 11% |
| Other and general | 3 | 11% |
| Airframe structure | 2 | 7% |
| Cabin, seats and restraints | 2 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 4% |
| Electric propulsion | 1 | 4% |
Certificates and bulletins
Safety bulletins 7 · advice, not orders
Sources: the FAA's type certificate data sheets, airworthiness directives, supplemental type certificates, special conditions and special airworthiness information bulletins (Dynamic Regulatory System), and the FAA's service difficulty reports. A failure report is what an operator or repair station chose to file; the counts show reporting as much as reliability, and larger and commercial fleets report more. How the systems are grouped.
Connections how the DG-500 links to the rest of the register
- Glaser-Dirks 37 aircraft on the register
- Glaser-Dirks DG-500M 5 registered
- Glaser-Dirks DG 500 ELAN 1 registered
- Built of composite · A glass-fibre glider.
- Rotax all models (one FAA code) 4 of these aircraft
- Washington 2 of these aircraft
- Texas 1 of these aircraft
- Nevada 1 of these aircraft
- Kansas 1 of these aircraft
- Florida 1 of these aircraft
- Wxca LLC 1 of these aircraft
- Museum Of Flight Foundation 1 of these aircraft
- NTSB accidents and incidents involving the DG-500 1 cases since 1982 · 0 fatal
- FAA orders naming the DG-500 27 airworthiness directives
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/model/glaser-dirks/dg-500.json.
Aircraft newest certificates first · 6
| Tail no. | Maker and model | Owner and base | Certificate | Registered | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N11KB | Glaser-Dirks DG-500M |
Individual owner Kansas |
Experimental | 2025-03-03 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N503V | Glaser-Dirks DG-500M |
Individual owner Nevada |
Restricted | 2021-12-15 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N88DM | Glaser-Dirks DG-500M |
Individual owner Florida |
None on file | 2021-11-02 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N505GG | Glaser-Dirks DG-500M |
Wxca LLC Edmonds, Washington |
Standard | 2019-07-16 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N577SF | Glaser-Dirks DG-500M |
Museum of Flight Foundation Seattle, Washington |
Standard | 2011-02-14 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |
| N505DG | Glaser-Dirks DG 500 ELAN |
Individual owner Texas |
Standard | 1998-01-16 | ValidFAA registration status code V: Valid registration. All codes |