Photograph:
Rebel 300 VH-TBN (c/n S8-88-008) at Hoxton Park, NSW in July 2008 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Single-seat unlimited category aerobatic monoplane
Power Plant:
One 246 kw (330 hp) Lycoming IO-540 six-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 7.72 m (25 ft)
- Length: 6.09 m (20 ft)
- Wing area: 9.29 m² (100 sq ft)
- Max speed: 402 km/h (250 mph)
- Cruising speed: 306 km/h (190 mph)
- Stalling speed power off: 93 km/h (58 mph)
- Range: 917 km (570 miles)
- Endurance: 3 hours
- Fuel capacity: 170 litres (37.4 imp gals)
- Wing loading in aerobatic configuration: 14.5 lb/ft²
- Empty weight: 522 kg (1,150 lb)
- Baggage: 16 kg (35 lb)
- Loaded weight: 658 kg (1,450 lb)
History:
The Rebel 300 is the predecessor of the American-built Lazer Z-300 aerobatic aircraft, being a single-seater designed for high-performance unlimited aerobatics competition. The Z-300 itself was a larger and strengthened variant of the Z-200, a two-seat model also being produced as the Z-2300. The Lazer series in later years was produced by York Enterprises, which produced a fuselage kit, and Teebird Enterprises, which produced the wing.
The Rebel series was produced in a number of models, the 2300 being produced later as the Z-2300 with a new wing to overcome issues with the composite wing of the Rebel model. The Rebel series had high power-to-weight ratios which provided good performance, and could be fitted with any engine in the Lycoming 540 range up to any power level that was available, usually driving a Hoffman three or four-blade propeller. It was of simple and robust construction and was produced in kit form to provide a relatively inexpensive, easy-to-build and simple to maintain machine. Construction was of steel tube with, metal, composite, wood and fabric.
The first example of the type in this region was imported in early 2008, becoming VH-TBN (c/n S8-88-008) to its owner, Tony Blair, of Townsville, QLD on 23 July 2007. This aircraft was fitted with an AEIO-540 engine driving an MT propeller. In November 2016 ownership of the aircraft was transferred to Paul Bennet Airshows of Cardiff, NSW and has been operated on the Company’s eastern states airshow circuit.