IAC will be observing the 25th anniversary of the test flight of the DR-107 “One Design” this year at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh as well as the 45th anniversary of the first flight of the “Acro Sport” - Paul Poberezny’s eighth design at EAA AirVenture 2018 in Oshkosh.
IAC President Mike Heuer flies the prototype "Super Acro Sport" back in the 1970's.
The DR-107 was designed by Dan Rihn, IAC #3836 of Seal Beach, California. Dan’s concept was to create an airplane as well as a competition category that would consist of airplanes built to the same specifications and which would put performance differences aside and made it purely a contest of pilot skill. Though the introduction of new IAC rules built around the “One Design” did not take off, what it did do is generate a lot of discussion on the future of competition aerobatics in all categories. Many of these types are flying in countries around the world and are enormously popular with their owners.
At the last U.S. National Aerobatic Championships in Oshkosh, three pilots flew DR-107’s and two were in the Unlimited category -- Adam Cope, Krysta Paradis, and Pablo Branco.
The DR-107 prototype at the U.S. Nationals in 1994.
The Acro Sport was designed by EAA President and Founder Paul H. Poberezny in the early 1970’s and in response to the enormous growth in interest in aerobatics and competition with the formation of the International Aerobatic Club, a division of EAA. The prototype carried the registration number N1AC (for “IAC”) and was flown by many aerobatic luminaries of the day including Paul, Tom Poberezny, Bob Heuer, and others. Paul himself competed in the airplane at the IAC Championships in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
A traditional and simply, though proven design of steel tubing and wood wings, the airplane was equipped with a 180 hp Lycoming engine with fixed-pitch prop. Utilizing a “Cub-style” landing gear, it was simple to operate and maintain. The Acro Sport was further developed into a “Super Acro Sport” with 200 hp Lycoming and symmetrical airfoils for more serious competition. An Acro II two-seat version was also designed by Paul Poberezny later to respond to demands from builders for two-seat aircraft. The prototype N1AC is now on display at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Krysta Paradis (right) accepts the Betty Skelton Trophy at the 2017 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Krysta flew a DR-107 "One Design" in Unlimited category. Photo by Evan Peers.
The prototype "One Design" on the cover of EAA's magazine.
