Rihn DR-107 One Design

DR-107 One Design
DR-107 at Compton Abbas Airfield
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Aircraft Spruce & Specialty
Designer Dan Rihn
First flight 1993
Status Plans and kits available (2013)
Number built at least 56 (2013)
Variants Rihn DR-109

The Rihn DR-107 One Design is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Dan Rihn and first flown in 1993. The aircraft is supplied by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty of Corona, California in the form of plans and a materials kit for amateur construction.[1]

The DR-107 was designed as a low-cost one design aircraft for competition and sport basic to advanced aerobatics, including International Aerobatic Club Class One competitions. For this role it is stressed to +/-10g.[1]

Design and development

The DR-107 is a monoplane that features a cantilever low-wing, a single-seat enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]

The aircraft is predominantly made from wood, with some steel parts and doped aircraft fabric. Its 19.50 ft (5.9 m) span wing employs a Wainfan 16% symmetrical airfoil and has a wing area of 75.55 sq ft (7.019 m2). The wing has almost full-span ailerons that produce rolls of 360° per second. The wing has no flaps. Other features include a low-mounted cable-braced tailplane and a 24 in (61.0 cm) wide cockpit.[1][2]

The DR-107 can accept engines of 160 to 180 hp (119 to 134 kW). The standard engines used are the 180 hp (134 kW) Lycoming O-360, modified with high compression pistons, an inverted oil system and fuel injection or the 160 hp (119 kW) Lycoming AEIO-320 powerplant.[1]

The aircraft has an empty weight of 740 lb (340 kg) and a gross weight of 1,150 lb (520 kg), giving a useful load of 410 lb (190 kg). With full fuel of 19 U.S. gallons (72 L; 16 imp gal) the payload is 296 lb (134 kg).[1]

The designer estimates the construction time from the supplied materials kit as 2000 hours.[1]

Operational history

By 1998 the company reported that 355 kits had been sold and five aircraft were flying.

In November 2013 33 examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, with another 11 previously registered and now removed.[3] Also in November 2013 there were two registered with Transport Canada and ten in the United Kingdom with the Civil Aviation Authority.[4][5] As of August 2024, ten are registered in Australia with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (including nine recorded as DR-107 One Design[6] and one recorded as One Design[7]); it is unknown how many are registered with Recreational Aviation Australia.

Specifications (DR-107)

Rihn DR-107 One Design

Data from AeroCrafter and Lednicer[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
  • Wingspan: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
  • Wing area: 75.55 sq ft (7.019 m2)
  • Airfoil: Wainfan 16% symmetrical
  • Empty weight: 740 lb (336 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,150 lb (522 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 19 U.S. gallons (72 L; 16 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming AEIO-320 four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke aircraft engine, 160 hp (120 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed constant speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 184 mph (296 km/h, 160 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn)
  • Stall speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
  • Range: 375 mi (604 km, 326 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,700 m)
  • g limits: +/-10 g
  • Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 15.22 lb/sq ft (74.3 kg/m2)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 107. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  2. ^ a b Lednicer, David (2010). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  3. ^ Federal Aviation Administration (November 29, 2013). "Make / Model Inquiry Results". Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  4. ^ Transport Canada (November 29, 2013). "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  5. ^ Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom) (November 29, 2013). "GINFO Search Results Summary". Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "Aircraft Register". CASA. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Aircraft Register". CASA. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
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