Service History
The DR-109 Rhino has carved out a specialized niche in the competitive aerobatics community since plans became available in the 1990s. At least 12 examples have been registered with the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States as of November 2013, with additional aircraft constructed internationally, including Danish registration OY-VAD. The aircraft serves primarily as a competition aerobatic platform and advanced trainer for pilots transitioning to the related DR-107 One Design. Notable operators include pilot Mark Mastren, who demonstrated the aircraft at the Wings Over Pegasus Airshow in 2024, and the Danish-registered example that performed at the Danish Airshow 2014 at Karup Airport.
The Manufacturer
Rihn Aircraft Corporation was a small-scale design operation founded by Dan Rihn, who developed the DR-109 as part of a family of aerobatic aircraft. The company operated primarily through direct plan sales, maintaining a website at members.aol.com/danrihn during its active years. Unlike traditional aircraft manufacturers, Rihn Aircraft never established a production line or factory, focusing instead on supplying detailed construction plans to amateur builders. The company ceased operations, with plan distribution subsequently handled by Jim Kimball Enterprises of Zellwood, Florida, and later by Ashcraft Aero Works of Aurora, Illinois. Plans remain available through aircraft supply companies and Experimental Aircraft Association resources.
Engine & Technical Details
The DR-109's standard powerplant is the Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5, a 260-horsepower, six-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine manufactured by Lycoming Engines, a division of Textron. This fuel-injected powerplant features inverted oil systems essential for sustained aerobatic flight, driving a constant-speed three-bladed propeller. The aircraft accepts engines ranging from 200 to 300 horsepower, allowing builders flexibility based on performance requirements and budget constraints.
Dan Rihn incorporated several innovative design elements to achieve the aircraft's exceptional aerobatic capabilities. The wing features a one-piece construction spanning 24 feet, built with Douglas fir spars and plywood ribs around a Wainfan 16-percent symmetrical airfoil. Full-span ailerons provide the aircraft's remarkable 360-degree-per-second roll rate, while the absence of flaps maintains clean aerodynamic lines. The fuselage consists of welded 4130 steel tubing covered in sheet aluminum, engineered to withstand extreme aerobatic loads of +/-10g during solo flight.
Pilot Perspective
Pilots praise the DR-109 for its exceptional aerobatic performance and responsive controls. The tandem seating configuration places both occupants under a bubble canopy, providing excellent visibility during competition maneuvers. The 48-inch-wide cockpit accommodates both pilot and passenger or instructor comfortably. With a stall speed of 58 mph solo and 60 mph with two occupants, the aircraft offers manageable low-speed handling characteristics. The impressive climb rate of 2,800 feet per minute allows rapid altitude recovery between aerobatic sequences.
Cruise performance reaches 178 mph, with a maximum speed of 205 mph, making the DR-109 practical for cross-country flights to competitions. The standard fuel capacity of 46 gallons provides a range of 534 miles with 45-minute reserves, translating to approximately 2.3 to 2.5 hours of endurance. Takeoff performance includes a ground roll of 600 feet and clearing a 50-foot obstacle in 1,800 feet.
Production & Legacy
The DR-109 represents a successful example of specialized homebuilt aircraft design, with construction time estimated at 1,300 hours for amateur builders. The aircraft's empty weight ranges from 1,260 to 1,495 pounds depending on equipment and engine selection, with a maximum gross weight of 2,275 pounds providing a useful load of 780 pounds. Wing loading of 19.96 pounds per square foot contributes to the aircraft's crisp aerobatic handling characteristics.
Several DR-109s remain active in the airshow and competition circuit, continuing to demonstrate the design's capabilities decades after its introduction. The aircraft has inspired radio-controlled scale models and has been featured in Experimental Aircraft Association publications, cementing its place in homebuilt aviation history. The DR-109's role as a trainer for the DR-107 One Design helped establish a progression path for amateur aerobatic pilots, contributing to the growth of competitive aerobatics in the homebuilt community. While production numbers remain modest, the aircraft's influence on high-performance homebuilt design continues to inspire contemporary aerobatic aircraft development.