Joint Fun instead of Joint Outlanding.

Easy to fly, comfortable, handy, agile - with outstanding performance: The Duo-Discus XL is the perfect device for enjoying flights together, whether in syndicates, in the family or in daily gliding club operation. The Turbo sustainer system proven for decades adds the certainty to do without risky outlandings and long retrieval trips. When you are running out of lift, you can rely on your Turbo. 

As long as you don't need the sustainer engine you'll forget that you have it. If you need it, however, there is hardly a more reliable engine concept than the turbo system that was introduced more than twenty years ago and has been continuously improved.

Reliable and Simple Activation

If thermal conditions let you down, you simply activate a switch to automatically extract the 22 kW SOLO two-stroke engine by an electrical spindle drive supported by a gas spring. The engine can be easily started using the windmill effect - you just pull and then let go of the decompression handle as instructed in the display of the engine control unit. 

The noise-optimized multi-blade foldable propeller runs at full power, eliminating the need for a starter, choke or throttle.

When done, just switch it off.

Once you have reached the desired altitude, the engine gets stopped and retracted by a simple click.

Backseat drivers supported.

The optional second engine control unit supports operating the engine from the back seat as well as from the front seat. With this option installed, the back seat can be declared as the seat of the responsible pilot, allowing you to fly guests seated in the front seat.  

 

Comfort releases Performance.

The room in the cockpit, which is already 10 cm longer than that of the Duo Discus X, was further increased by extending the rear seat backwards.

The control levers are placed according to ergonomic criteria and customers requests, and were arranged in optimal position with functional design.

The redesigned cockpit now also accommodates pilots taller than 2 meters in size. Efficient adjustments for backrests and rudder pedals also increase the seat comfort for smaller pilots.

It is now permitted to fly from the back seat without any operational restrictions, which further extends the spectrum of usage.

Fly safer. 

The front instrument panel can now be tilted upwards, which getting in and out of the glider more comfortable and eases an emergency exit. The backwards extended canopy improves the view for the pilot in the rear seat and is another gain of safety in flying.

Safer Landings.

With extension of the airbrakes, a trailing edge flap extends downwards simultaneously, compensating the loss of aerodynamic lift when the airbrakes are extended, so the lift coefficient remains practically unchanged. At the same time, the total drag of the aircraft is increased, which allows for a steeper approach angle and, even more important, for a slower landing speed with extended airbrakes and trailing edge flaps.

The extended trailing edge flaps increase the longitudinal pitch which results in even better visibility to the landing point.

As the trailing edge flaps and airbrakes are mechanically coupled, the trailing edge flaps react opposite to the airbrakes upon extension. An unlocked airbrake can therefore not extend itself, which prevents the situation of taking off with extended airbrakes unintentionally.

As there is no extra lever needed to operate the trailing edge flaps - they work in unison with the air brakes - there is no additional work load for the pilot.

The improved effectiveness of the airbrake system (the airbrakes moved 4cm to the leding edge and are now 18mm higher) makes it now possible to approve the Duo Discus XL for simple aerobatics including spinning.

Technical Data

  metric imperial
Wing span 20 m 65.62 ft
Wing area 16.40 m² 176.53 ft²
Aspect ratio 24.4 24.4
Fuselage length 8.73 m 28.64 ft
Empty mass (approx.) 490 kg 1080 lb
Max. all-up mass 750 kg 1654 lb
Wing loading (approx.) 34.1 - 45.7 kg/m² 7.0 - 9.3 lb/ft²
Max. permitted speed 262 km/h 142 kts (163 mph)
  metric imperial
Engine type Solo 2350 D Solo 2350 D
Power 22 kW / 30 PS 30 hp
Propeller asymmetrical foldable 5-blade-propeller asymmetrical foldable 5-blade-propeller
Tank capacity 16.2 liter 4.28 US Gal. / 3.56 IMP Gal.

Downloads

Standard Equipment and Options

Wings and fuselage build from Carbon Fibre Composite
2 wingtip wheels instead of skids optional / upgradeable   more…

For single seaters, only compatible with 18m wing span. Especially for self-launching sailplanes, the wing tip wheels ease the starting.

Central charging connector under the rear instrument panel   more…
Additional nose skid to replace the nose wheel optional / upgradeable
Nose wheel (replaceable)
Triple panel dive brakes
Maughmer Winglets
Control gap seals, additional teflon sealing on ailerons and flaps optional / upgradeable
Battery 18 Ah to extend and retract the Turbo system   more…
Air filled tail wheel (200x50) optional / upgradeable
Safety cockpit built from Carbon/Kevlar composite   more…
Tail tank optional   more…

In case of top-heaviness, the tail tank can be filled with water to improve the flight quality. 

Additional C/G release hook optional / upgradeable
Canopy cover
Battery holder in the fin
Battery holder for 2 batteries 12 V / 9 ah in front of the rear seat upgradeable
Nose release
Shock-absorbing retractable main undercarriage with hydraulic disc brake   more…
Automatic control hook-ups
Oxygen cylinder mount optional / upgradeable   more…
Seat pan and cockpit floor visibly laminated in Carbon/Kevlar Composite   more…
Additional ventilation air scoop in the side windows   more…
Additional seat cushion for short pilots optional / upgradeable
Cockpit interior in leather optional / upgradeable   more…
Cockpit interior in Competition design optional / upgradeable
Blue tinted canopy optional / upgradeable
Cockpit sides upholstered and with pockets   more…
Seat cushions for front and back seat with shock absorbing foam   more…
Adjustable ventilation outlets on the side panel for each seat
Cockpit sides in spotted paint
Schroth oder Gadringer safety harnesses with rotary buckles
Adjustable rudder pedals in both seats
Adjustable back seat head rest   more…
Front seat adjustable seat back with integrated headrest   more…
Main undercarriage operable from either seat independently
Tilt-up front seat instrument panel   more…
Combination pouch for aircraft books and main pin   more…
Finish in T 35 (Vorgelat)
Registration number painted
Finish with Polyurethane Arcyl paint optional   more…

Avoids cracking due to low temperatures as well as yellowing of the surface

Competition letters as vinyl stickers optional / upgradeable
Competition letters painted optional / upgradeable
Competition letters painted, clear coated and sanded smooth optional / upgradeable
Layout for shading or special script optional / upgradeable   more…

Attention: Fluorierend paint is not permanently UV resistent and may fade over time

Anti-collision markings SHK design optional / upgradeable
Double-layer anti-collision markings in fluorierend red RAL 3023 SHK standard design optional / upgradeable
Layout for special designs with masking optional / upgradeable   more…

Attention: Flourecend paint is not permanently UV resistent and may bleach out over time.

Receptacle in the fin for TE, statid/TE or triple sensor upgradeable   more…

R

Installation preparation for transponder antenna type Dolba in the fin
Electronic turbo engine control unit with automatic extension and retraction, for front seat
Flarm antenna Dolba BD12 optional / upgradeable
Tail dolly optional / upgradeable   more…
Tow bar with tail lifting arm, system Cobra optional / upgradeable   more…
Wing wheel system Sifi optional / upgradeable
Tow bar, foldable optional / upgradeable   more…

Further Duo Discus Models:


Easy to fly, comfortable, handy, agile - with outstanding performance: The Duo-Discus XL is the perfect device for enjoying flights together, whether in syndicates, in the family or in daily gliding club operation.