Van's Aircraft

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Van's Aircraft
Industry Aerospace
Founded 1973
Headquarters Aurora State Airport, Oregon Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., Aurora, Oregon, United States
Key people
Richard VanGrunsven
Products Kit aircraft
Number of employees
65
Website www.vansaircraft.com

Van's Aircraft is an American kit aircraft manufacturer, founded by Richard "Van" VanGrunsven in 1973.

Van's RV series of aircraft, from the single-seat RV-3 to the latest RV-14, are all-aluminum, low-wing monoplanes of monocoque construction. The RV series of airplanes has been extremely successful, and by the end of 2012, about 8000 RV kits had been completed and flown, and thousands more are under construction. Completion rates currently average about 1.5 per day,[1] making the series one of the most numerous of all homebuilt aircraft. They feature responsive controls plus both good speed and fuel economy.[2][3][4] In 2013, the company announced it would begin selling some assembled aircraft as well on a limited basis.[5]

Van's factory is located at Aurora State Airport, Oregon. This airport is the location of an annual fly-in for Van's aircraft owners.[4]

Regulatory status

RVs are deemed Experimental - amateur-builts by the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States and are accepted under the corresponding category by the aviation authorities in many other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. A modified version of the RV-6 was sold to the Nigerian government as a kit-assembled military trainer.

The RV-12 is available as an experimental and special light-sport aircraft.

RV aircraft series

Formation flight of 40 Van's Aircraft
  • RV-1: Single example of a Stits SA-3 Playboy built by VanGrunsven in 1965 and modified with a 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming engine, larger tail, modified cowling, modified fuselage and a custom wing[6]
  • RV-2: wooden flying wing sailplane prototype that was never completed[7]
  • RV-3: single seat[7]
  • RV-4: two seats, tandem, bubble canopy[7]
  • RV-5: A small metal single seat prototype that was flown with a two-stroke engine[7]
  • RV-6: two seats, side-by-side[7]
  • RV-7: improved RV-6, with longer wingspan and larger rudder[7]
  • RV-8: improved RV-4, with larger cockpit[7]
  • RV-9: two seats, side-by-side; larger wing and more docile handling qualities[7]
  • RV-10: four seats, tricycle landing gear only[7]
  • RV-11: single-seat motorglider; under development
  • RV-12: two seats, side-by-side Light Sport Aircraft.[8]
  • RV-14: two seats, side-by-side version of the RV-10.[9]

Gallery

References

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External links

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Kitplanes Staff: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, page 77-78, Kitplanes Magazine December 2007 Volume 24, Number 12, Belvior Publications, Aviation Publishing Group LLC.
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