David Wilkinson's New Rihn One Design

I was pleased to be able to get to North Shore airfield yesterday to catch up with David Wilkinson who has his new Rihn DR 107 One Design coming together in his hangar.  There were also quite a few other interested homebuilt aircraft guys helping out.

This is a wider shot of the teaser I posted last night, showing the nice touch of the aircraft name embroidered into the seat back.  As usual David had done an amazing job of his aircraft.

The Wilkinson yellow fleet in and outside their hangar.

I was on hand for one of the early engine start ups.  The engine is a high compression Lycoming IO-375 (a stroked O-360)  that produces around 230 HP.  It sounded great.

The 80 inch Whirlwind propeller spans one third of the wingspan!

Then David took his aircraft for its first taxi.

The missing panels are carbon fibre fairings that are fixed onto the chromoly steel tube frame.