{"id":29089,"date":"2025-04-16T20:21:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T18:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/?p=29089"},"modified":"2025-04-16T20:21:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T18:21:54","slug":"retrofit-option-for-dg-400-and-dg-800a-with-the-res-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/dg-aircraft-news\/retrofit-option-for-dg-400-and-dg-800a-with-the-res-system\/29089","title":{"rendered":"Retrofit Option for DG-400 and DG-800A with the RES System"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019ve increasingly been approached about whether there is an alternative propulsion unit for the Rotax 505 engines used in the DG-400 and DG-800A, given the well-known spare parts issues.<br \/>\nAs part of the ongoing trend toward electrification, we\u2019re pleased to offer you the opportunity to retrofit your DG-400 or DG-800A equipped with a Rotax 505 with a RES system (\u201cREStrofit\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>The RES system, developed by Solo, will be integrated into the DG-400 and DG-800A in a configuration similar to that used in the JS3 RES, where the system has already proven itself:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Motor<\/strong>: Emrax 208<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pylon<\/strong>: Likely the same as used in the JS3<\/li>\n<li><strong>Batteries<\/strong>: 2 Emectric BM384 (including charger)<\/li>\n<li><strong>DC\/DC converter<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Additionally, the retrofit will include further optimizations in the DG-400 and DG-800A:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>More powerful <strong>propeller<\/strong> from the JS2<\/li>\n<li>Conversion to <strong>two-piece engine bay doors<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>New spindle drive<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Removal of 4x 6V lead-acid batteries in the fuselage nose, replaced with a <strong>12V LiFePo avionics battery<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Removal of the old fuel tank<\/strong> to make room for control electronics<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tool-free battery installation\/removal<\/strong> thanks to an innovative spring-loaded locking mechanism<\/li>\n<li><strong>Optional onboard charger<\/strong> for charging at an EV charging station<\/li>\n<li>Replacement of the <strong>DEI unit<\/strong> in the instrument panel with a <strong>57mm round instrument<\/strong>, allowing for larger flight computers to be installed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_29090\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29090\" class=\"wp-image-29090 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/IMG_8666-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-29090\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">DG-400 Retrofit \u2013 Inside view<\/p><\/div>\n<p>With these upgrades and components, we expect performance data similar to the JS3 RES\u2014and possibly even better performance due to the new propeller:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Current JS3 RES Performance data<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Peak power<\/strong>: 40kW (up to 4m\/s climb rate) at 4350 rpm<\/li>\n<li><strong>With self-launch capability<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Climb altitude with fully charged batteries: 1700 m<\/li>\n<li>Max range: 120 km<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Without self-launch<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Climb altitude with fully charged batteries: 2000 m<\/li>\n<li>Max range: 157 km<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Benefits of the new propeller<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Same thrust at significantly lower RPM \u2192 reduced noise and improved climb performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The total system weight (including batteries) is comparable to the Rotax 505 system with a full fuel tank, meaning <strong>no reduction in payload capacity<\/strong> compared to the current setup is expected.<\/p>\n<p>To safeguard the financial investment required for development and tooling, we\u2019re initially offering this retrofit as an <strong>option <\/strong>\u00a0for DG-400 and DG-800A owners.<br \/>\nOnce we receive <strong>five confirmed options<\/strong>, we\u2019ll begin development and conversion, with the goal of completing the first REStrofit aircraft within the next two years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Target price<\/strong> for the retrofit is <strong>\u20ac67,226.89 net (\u20ac80,000.00 gross)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The retrofit includes the entire RES system (valued at approx. \u20ac50,000), complete removal of the combustion engine, full RES system installation, and test flight certification. All removed components (engine, spindle drive, DEI, etc.) remain your property and may be sold.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_29096\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29096\" class=\"wp-image-29096 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/1000130879-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-29096\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Retrofit-Mockup DG-400<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>No more driving to the gas station, no more 2-stroke fuel mixing, no more exhaust fumes!<\/strong><br \/>\nSimply plug it in after landing, or remove the batteries without tools through the large engine doors and take them home! The next day, just roll out your glider and fly!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Easy motor operation<\/strong>\u2014no choke, no flooding, no manual propeller brake!<br \/>\nAlso, <strong>maintenance and service costs for the RES system are significantly lower<\/strong> compared to combustion engines.<\/p>\n<p>With this retrofit, you\u2019ll turn your DG-400 or DG-800A into an efficient, eco-friendly, and user-friendly <strong>state-of-the-art self-launch glider<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reserve your REStrofit option now!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For any questions, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/points-of-contact\">DG team<\/a> is happy to assist.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking Beyond \u2013 A Quick Outlook<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A retrofit with <strong>neo-winglets for the DG-400<\/strong> is unfortunately <strong>not feasible<\/strong> due to wing structure constraints. For the <strong>DG-800<\/strong>, this is currently under review.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Next phase<\/strong>: REStrofit will also become available for the <strong>DG-800B<\/strong> and <strong>DG-808C<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>For the <strong>DG-600M<\/strong>, a general retrofit is <strong>not planned at this time<\/strong>, but we\u2019re happy to provide a custom offer upon request.<\/li>\n<li>In parallel, the <strong>new DG-1001 RES<\/strong> is in the final development stages. The first flight is expected by <strong>late 2025<\/strong>.<br \/>\nFor further info and delivery slots, <strong>Jonas K\u00fchn<\/strong> is your point of contact.<br \/>\nAfter successful flight testing, we will consider offering REStrofit options for other two-seater models as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019ve increasingly been approached about whether there is an alternative propulsion unit for the Rotax 505 engines used in the DG-400 and DG-800A, given the well-known spare parts issues. As part of the ongoing trend toward electrification, we\u2019re pleased to offer you the opportunity to retrofit your DG-400 or DG-800A equipped with a Rotax 505 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":29066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1833,1834],"class_list":["post-29089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dg-aircraft-news","tag-easa","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29089"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29100,"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29089\/revisions\/29100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dg-aviation.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}