Test Flying the Rhino in Darwin_____
2 blade Rhino
The Masters 11x7 2blabe prop proved to give the best power and speed.
2 Rhinos in the Bush
The proto type and Production aircraft together
Collapsed Landing Gear a Design Feature
The landing gear legs are made to collapse in a heavy landing rather than bounce you back into the air.
Bowed Legs Reset
The wheel legs are easily bent back into shape after a hard landing
Close and Personal
What's the point of going to the Northern Territory if you don't get up close and personal with a salt water crocodile
Test Without Dihedral
Preparing for the first flight with 0 degrees dihedral. Athol declared he much preferred this configuration. All previous flight had been with 10 degrees.
Changing Batteries
We had 2 batteries for each aircraft. Batteries are held in place with cable ties. You simply cut them and replace them.
Water Caused Plenty of Landing Mishaps
It was hard to avoid the water when half our landing area was covered with small lakes. The joys of flying in the wet season.
Rhinos Lined up to Fly
After I built the second Rhino I decided to find out what a group of Rhinoserouses are called. Would you believe they are called a 'CRASH'. Well, I designed them to survive a crash!
Broken Nose
I nosed the prototype hard into the ground and the force and momentum of the wings twisted the main fuselage spars. A trip to the hardware for some aluminium tube, 2 hours in the workshop of drilling and riveting and it was back in the air the next day.
Apology