At Boulder we had a DG808B & my DG500M this past Summer. The DG808B
seems to outperform the Pawnee by most everyone's estimation probably
regularly beating 500fpm on the 8500 DA typicall day as quoted below,
thats without water but still very impressive to watch and very quiet.

My DG500M doesn't do as well as the 808 but has less power and much
more weight. Looking through my notes where I actually recorded data I
see on July 10 at Boulder (1V5) approx 5300MSL, 88F, Baro 30.01, 9
minutes to shutdown at 8300 ft. Probably a minute of that was with the
engine idling before shutdown. So about 375fpm actual but I was solo.
A few weeks before that flying dual with my buddy Rolf at Gallup NM
dual climb rates at DA of about 10k looked to be about 300fpm. From
the logger traces no averages below 250fpm nor any above 400fpm dual
over a week with typicall DA 10k.

Without checking all the data (aren't loggers cool ?) it feels like the
DG500M gets better climb performance on its own then when behind the
180HP Super Cup but not as good as the 235HP Pawnee. It also feels
that weight makes more of a difference then DA. I have never self
launched my DG below Boulder's field elev nor fly in cooler weather so
can't really comment on the other side of the spectrum. Though I read
(maybe on the Aux Sailplane Assc news group or the DG owner site) that
the flapped ships do much better. It is interesting that DG had
problems certifying the new non-flapped DG-1000 as a self launcher and
for now its only available as a "turbo" like the Duo Discus. I follow
the manual and climb at flaps +10degrees at Vy 49kts.

Graham Beasley DG-500M Hotel Golf
home.comcast.net/~grahambeasley/dg4sale


BTIZ wrote:
Now that is an interesting data point... I'd be interested in others also..

If that DuoT can't climb above 6500ft MSL at better than 150fpm, then I
would not even attempt a takeoff out here in the summer time. Airport Elev,
2833MSL, Baro 30.00, Temp 100F, puts the DA at 6000ft. Granted there can be
found a thermal right on the runway to assist, but there is also strong down
near strong up.

Another favorite launch site, at 5500MSL, Baro 30.00 and 90F puts the DA at
8500, even if the temp is still only 80F, the DA is 7940.

I've noticed a DG500M on the market that flies regularly out of Colorado,
would the seller care to offer some data points?

Maybe the DG808B?

BT
"Gary Emerson" wrote in message
news
Greetings,

Looking for some real world data on what the max altitude that a Duo T can
sustain level flight. Would also be nice to know what sort of climb
performance people have seen at lower altitudes. I know it'll climb to
6500ft MSL and average around 150 FPM, but hoping to get more data points.

Gary