The Glaser-Dirks company began in 1973 with the DG-100.  The company followed this successful design by building the flapped DG-200, the Standard Class DG-300.  In 1981 the 17m self launching DG-400 opened new horizons for glider pilots and is still the best sold motor glider of its kind.  Part of this success is due to the simple engine handling and to the Digital Engine Indicator.  The DEI and its descendants is still in use today.

In 1978 the company entered into an agreement with Elan (later AMS-Flight) in Slovenia to build DG sailplanes.  This co-operation is still in place today.

In 1987 the two seat DG-500 and self launch DG-500M were flown.  In the same year the DG-600 high performance single seater appeared.  This was followed by the self launch DG-600M

The DG-505 Elan Orion multi span two seater flew in 1994.  This extremely adaptable and capably glider can be flown in 3 spans,  17.2m or 18m span for aerobatics and training, 20m span with winglets for cross country flights.  This very popular glider is still in production with AMS-Flight

The DG-800 series 18m began in 1993 with the DG-800A self launch and the DG-800S pure racing sailplane.  The DG-800B followed shortly after using the British Mid West 2-stroke engine.  Because production of this engine was shut down, only 5 units were built.  A replacement engine was not immediately available which lead to Glaser-Dirks having financial problems ending in bankruptcy in 1996. Fortunately the production had to be stopped for only a few weeks. The investors Karl Friedrich Weber, his wife Eva-Marie and Gerhard Wolff bought the factory and continued the production of the DG products with great financial and personal effort.

A new state of the art production facility was built alongside the airfield at Bruchsal.  This facility is purpose built for the production of modern FRP sailplanes.

The DG-800B was fitted with the 53 hp Solo engine and this developed into the first class self launching glider that we know today.  The latest variant is the DG-808C with the Solo 2625 engine.

 In 2000 the DG-1000 appeared.  This modern, multi role 18m and 20m high performance two seater has been a huge success for the DG company. 

 In 2003 DG joined forces with LS which had economic problems.  Today DG build the LS8-s and the LS10-s but that’s another story.  Click here to see the range of LS gliders produced by DG.