Have to share the news. The RV-3 that KITPLANES contributor Paul Dye and his wife, Louise Hose, built has flown. According to Dye, the first flight was textbook. The second ended in an off-airport landing with no damage. They flew it out and have continued testing; a mere burp, nothing horrible. Dye says he could [...]
Our RV-10 was built by a team of Ken Smith, Tom Smith, Tim Dawson-Townsend and Anton Nielsen. Total build time was about 6 and a half years. First flight was July 7, 2010 and the test period was without major hiccups. Paint went on in May 2011 and we made the first pilgrimage to Oshkosh [...]
My RV 9-A flew on October 10, 2011, after five years of highly enjoyable construction. N797EJ is powered by a Lycoming YO-320-D1A with a Sensenich fixed pitch prop. The aircraft is based at Green Landings in wild and wonderful West Virginia. Thanks to test pilot Craig Fuller and to Jack Raun, for his help and [...]
After 5 years of building my RV-10, N518RV took to the air in February 2010. It was painted in August, after phase 1 was completed. It is equipped with an Aerosport Power IO-540, Grand Rapids EFIS/EIS, Garmin avionics stack and the Tru-Trak autopilot. It has plenty of power and is a real dream to fly. [...]
N143DJ first flew on August 10, 2011 after nearly 11 1/2 years of slow building. She has an AeroSport Power O-320, a Catto prop, Dynon D-100 EFIS, and D-120 EMS. I want to thank my tech counselors Gale Derosier, Rick Galati, and the late Bob Jude. I also want to thank my flight advisor Bill [...]
A new group of Vans Aircraft enthusiasts has formed to restore the original RV-1 airplane of founder Richard VanGrunsven, which is the progenitor of the RV line of kit aircraft. The plan is to restore the recently located airplane and then take it on tour so that others in the aviation community can see it, [...]
On Friday, September 17, the Hobbs meter on the Vans Aircraft web site registered the 1000th RV8 aircraft to fly. That number represents an average of a new RV8 (or its sibling the tricycle gear RV8A) in the air every fifth day since the design was introduced in 1996. There are about 2000 RV8/8As under [...]
Ever wonder what it takes to be the largest kit manufacturer in the world? KITPLANES editor Marc Cook takes a tour of Van’s Aircraft in Aurora, Oregon.
