One Design DR 107

ONE DESIGN DR 107

YEAR BUILT: 2004
C OF A: PFA PERMIT
ENGINE: 180HP LYCOMING O-360
PRICE: £25,000 FOR HALF-SHARE
SELLER: VERNON MILLARD
TEL: 01473 658592
BASE: SUFFOLK

G-IIID is a brand new Dan Rihn One Design DR107 built by Vernon Millard in Suffolk. Vernon bought G-IIID as a part-completed project 18 months ago, and has spent about 1500 hours completing the construction. The test flying for the issue of its Permit to Fly has been concluded, and Vernon is now offering a half-share for £25,000.

Vernon spent 24 years as an aircraft engineer in the RAF, and the One Design is the third aeroplane he has built. That level of experience is apparent in the high quality of the build and attention to detail in G-IIID.

When first looking over a Dan Rihn One Design there are a couple of striking features. The first is how tiny an aeroplane it is - just 17 feet long, and with a wing area about 75% that of a Pitts S1. The second is the amazingly fat wing - about a foot thick at the root. The short span and thick cross-section give the impression that the wing could have been the centre section cut out of an aeroplane twice the size!

The wing is constructed using a Douglas Fir main spar, plywood ribs and skins, and fibreglass wing tips. G-IIID is fitted with the 180hp version of the Lycoming O-360, modified with a Christen inverted oil system and an Ellison Throttle Body Injector. Fuel capacity is 75 litres, and with fuel consumption of 32 litres/hour at 65% power, that gives an endurance of about 21/4 hours with no reserves. Despite its small exterior dimensions, the aeroplane is surprisingly roomy once strapped in. At over 6ft tall, Vernon is easily accommodated, with plenty of room at the shoulders. The seat backrest is adjustable, and a 7-point Hooker harness is fitted.

Some weaving is necessary during taxiing to maintain a view ahead.

Keeping straight for the few seconds it takes to accelerate to the 55kt lift-off speed presents no problems, and once airborne both the rate and angle of climb are fantastic. Maximum rate of climb is 2500 ft/min, but much better forward visibility can be obtained at a climb speed of 100kt, which still gives a climb rate of about 2000 ft/min.

In the air, the aeroplane is simply enormous fun. The phenomenal roll rate and low inertia give an amazing feeling of agility, but it doesn't feel at all twitchy. The 1g stall in G-IIID comes at 51kt and is very docile and predictable. The basic aerobatic figures required for the PFA test flight can all be flown effortlessly, starting from level cruising flight. Even though the airframe appears aerodynamically clean, there is plenty of drag at high angles of attack so there is no tendency for the airspeed to run away.

For landing, a curved or slipping approach at 75kt is necessary to maintain a good view of the runway. Once on the ground, the aeroplane tracks nice and straight, and doesn't require frantic pedalling, even in a crosswind.

There are some aeroplanes that make you laugh out loud when you fly them, and the One Design is certainly one of them. Whether you want a serious competition aeroplane, or to just enjoy wonderful performance and agility, the One Design provides a means to do so for very reasonable costs.