DG-303 spar issues - puchase?

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 7:03:07 PM UTC-4, wrote:
I have owned my DG-303 for 10 years. I think it is the absolute best design for the newer transition pilot coming out of club ships in a safety sense. It does everything very well except winning racing competitions. The spar issue has been a non-issue after lots and lots of extensive study and research. Most of the ships they cut open did not have the problem and no one has ever had a problem with spar failure because of the construction flaw on the few ships that might have it. DG did a load test on a defective spar wing and it broke at over 9G's of load. The thought of the damage of cutting and repairing 4 holes in my wings to increase the safety margin from 1.4 to 1.5 just does not make sense to me especially when most likely most ships probably does not have the problem to begin with, especially my new one. Come to Utah for a sit and see!!!

Thanks for the info about the spar! I've been thinking of moving to Utah, maybe next year. Thanks for the offer to let me sit inside your sailplane; I would love to.

Paul

On Thursday, 14 May 2020 13:00:02 UTC-6, Paul wrote:
On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 7:03:07 PM UTC-4, wrote:
I have owned my DG-303 for 10 years. I think it is the absolute best design for the newer transition pilot coming out of club ships in a safety sense. It does everything very well except winning racing competitions. The spar issue has been a non-issue after lots and lots of extensive study and research. Most of the ships they cut open did not have the problem and no one has ever had a problem with spar failure because of the construction flaw on the few ships that might have it. DG did a load test on a defective spar wing and it broke at over 9G's of load. The thought of the damage of cutting and repairing 4 holes in my wings to increase the safety margin from 1.4 to 1.5 just does not make sense to me especially when most likely most ships probably does not have the problem to begin with, especially my new one. Come to Utah for a sit and see!!!

Thanks for the info about the spar! I've been thinking of moving to Utah, maybe next year. Thanks for the offer to let me sit inside your sailplane; I would love to.

Paul

Paul, I was the previous owner of DG-303 that John is selling. It was my first single place after learning and getting my license in a Grob 103.

I echo everything John stated plus he has taken great care of the glider along with tremendous upgrades to the electronics.

COme on out to UT and test fit the glider and have ready to fly for when you move here!

Ron Gleason
Huntsville, UT

I have been flying John's 303 since last season, in exchange for keeping it in my hangar, and for upgrading the transponder/FLARM with ADSB. I LOVE this glider. Great roll rate from the big aerobatic ailerons. Very docile (no bad stall tendencies), but very responsive. Thermals basically hands off. I started flying it the year after I got my add-on rating with less than 30 hours in a Grob, and it was a very easy transition. I believe the glide is comparable with a flapped glider until about 80 knots, then you start to have a higher sink rate as you push to 100 knots. The glider is in incredible condition, with a beautiful gel coat. Who ever buys this glider is going to be very happy. I am jumping into a JS3 (with Jet sustainer) next month, and I hope the handling and thermalling is half as good as the 303.....

On Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 10:53:18 PM UTC-4, Richard DalCanto wrote:
I have been flying John's 303 since last season, in exchange for keeping it in my hangar, and for upgrading the transponder/FLARM with ADSB. I LOVE this glider. Great roll rate from the big aerobatic ailerons. Very docile (no bad stall tendencies), but very responsive. Thermals basically hands off. I started flying it the year after I got my add-on rating with less than 30 hours in a Grob, and it was a very easy transition. I believe the glide is comparable with a flapped glider until about 80 knots, then you start to have a higher sink rate as you push to 100 knots. The glider is in incredible condition, with a beautiful gel coat. Who ever buys this glider is going to be very happy. I am jumping into a JS3 (with Jet sustainer) next month, and I hope the handling and thermalling is half as good as the 303....

Thank you for letting me know. There are a few 303, so waiting to hear from them.

Paul

On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 6:00:53 AM UTC+12, Paul wrote:
For a new glider pilot, do you think a DG-303 glider would be a good glider to purchase? I really like the design, and I've tried to understand all the issues that occurred around 2007 (https://groups.google.com/forum/#!st...g/SspUMjJ-YYo), however not sure what the end result was. There are a few DG-30# for sale on W&W.

Appreciate any recommendations. Thanks,
Paul

I owned a DG300 (almost the same as the 303) for over 5 years and loved it. As long as it's handicapped it's fine for contests, I flew it in many and won lots of days and the odd comp. Generally contest failures are the pilot not pointing the glider in the right direction, rather than the glider! It handled water well. So docile to fly, easy to rig, and the original gel coat polished up great. Loved the visibility. I put in an LX S100 which works great for the panel and is about the right investment for that age of glider. Recently sold it to buy a Ventus CT for the turbo.
https://imgur.com/DPwDsFk

On Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 3:59:54 AM UTC-4, Tim from Pure Glide wrote:
On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 6:00:53 AM UTC+12, Paul wrote:
For a new glider pilot, do you think a DG-303 glider would be a good glider to purchase? I really like the design, and I've tried to understand all the issues that occurred around 2007 (https://groups.google.com/forum/#!st...g/SspUMjJ-YYo), however not sure what the end result was. There are a few DG-30# for sale on W&W.

Appreciate any recommendations. Thanks,
Paul

I owned a DG300 (almost the same as the 303) for over 5 years and loved it. As long as it's handicapped it's fine for contests, I flew it in many and won lots of days and the odd comp. Generally contest failures are the pilot not pointing the glider in the right direction, rather than the glider! It handled water well. So docile to fly, easy to rig, and the original gel coat polished up great. Loved the visibility. I put in an LX S100 which works great for the panel and is about the right investment for that age of glider. Recently sold it to buy a Ventus CT for the turbo.
https://imgur.com/DPwDsFk

thanks!

Paul

We have a couple of DG 300’s in our club. Everyone seems to enjoy them. There is the DG tax to consider though.

On Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 9:49:57 AM UTC-4, Charles Longley wrote:
We have a couple of DG 300’s in our club. Everyone seems to enjoy them. There is the DG tax to consider though.

Not sure exactly what is meant by the tax...

Paul

Cost to get info from the mfr. you can do a yearly, or case by case.....thus "tax".

On Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 2:58:27 PM UTC-4, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
Cost to get info from the mfr. you can do a yearly, or case by case.....thus "tax".

Below is what I found on DG's FAQ website (https://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/en/mai...vice-contract).

Am I reading this incorrectly?

"I own a glider made by your company, which I just purchased second hand. Do I have to conclude a Service Agreement?
No you don’t have to. All gliders built after 1996 by DG Flugzeugbau take advantage of our lifelong after-sales-service. You have virtually purchased it with your used aircraft. The same applies to customers who own such a DG- or LS-glider and want to sell it. The buyer does not have to sign a Service Agreement."