We learn of flying RVs in several different ways, and we can only add your RV to our counter if you let us know it’s flown! Ideally, a builder will use the form linked from this page to send us the story and a photo/video or two or three of his or her personal “RV grin.” Sometimes they call us on the phone, which is great but doesn’t actually provide us with anything to publish on the web. Other times we find out incidentally; for example when a customer calls to order new tires and we wonder why someone who is still building (as far as we know) would need them. Or, we may discover a first flight announcement on an RV web forum or other online venue. On yet other occasions, we learn of a new batch of flying RVs from “RV factories” overseas, but without the individual owner details.
We’d like to see more RV grins here, so please submit your first-flight story and pictures of your new “baby,” or we (and the rest of the world) may never know of your success! Click the “Submit Report” link on the right!
Congratulations to Giovanni on completing his RV‑7! Was a Windy Day, Sun was barely visible due to Smoke in the Air, as it had been for weeks, But We decided To Fly Take-off was quick, first hop was only 5-10 minutes, just a lap around the pattern. Still, it felt like I had used the […] Read More
Congratulations to Dennis on completing his RV‑8! Today in the light of the midnight sun, my long time project took to the skies for the first time piloted by my father and RV-4 #432 Builder Bjarne Isaksson. It is powered by a O-360 turning a Cato 2 blade prop, Empty weight was 468kg, climbed like […] Read More
Congratulations to Richard on flying his new RV‑12iS! He writes: Life kept getting in the way but we finally got it done. We were performing taxi tests and I guess we got a little too fast. Had to make a split-second decision. The airplane was ready to go. Handling great. So… what the heck. The […] Read More
Another RV takes flight—congratulations, Megan! Flying the RV-10 has been such a blast! From start to finish, the build took my husband and I seven years (2018-2025), but actual build time was 3.5 years (an overseas assignment close to the end of the build put work at stoppage for a while!). The first flight was […] Read More
Congratulations to Chuck and Jerry on their new RV-14A! They write: Wow, what a day! After 5 1/2 years of building, N671RV took to the air 7/4/2025. Dad and I have had a wonderful time building and now we’re going to have a wonderful time flying. What a great father / son project! The first […] Read More
Congratulations Engelien! Despite multiple rest years, 2500 hours of logged work ended with certification on 6/28/2025. I was honored to have my son, Paul perform first flight. He has flown most everything. As the DAR said, now the adventure begins. Thank you VAN’s, VAF, and many friends for your support and wisdom. CLEAR PROP.
Congratulations to Garry on the completion of his second RV! He shares: The hand me down kit I purchased in 2017 was already 12 years old and no rivets have been driven (this made for a blank canvasfor RV#2 ) so having only been flying my RV 6 for eight months ,it got severely neglected […] Read More
Congratulations to Richard on the first flight of his RV‑6A, and thank you for the detailed report. He writes: N921CR is the result of a 30-year build, and the first flight was worth the wait! QP John Musgrave and I lined up on Clow International Airport’s (1C5) runway 36 and in a few brief seconds, […] Read More
Todd wrote in to let us know that he has completed his RV-10! He writes: The first flight for N92TJ took place May 29, 2025 after a 6 ½ year build. I decided to build a plane so my wife and I could go on trips and cross things off our bucket list on our […] Read More
Congratulations to Jim on his new RV-14! He writes: 3yrs one month. 20-30 hrs a week. I am very impressed with quality of the kit and performance of the aircraft I have the biggest RV grin.
Congratulations Samuel! Got that RV grin!
Congrats to John on his new RV-10! He writes: Very smooth first flight, wonderful feeling to fly an aircraft that I have already spent so much time with!
Congrats to Pat Geyer on his RV-7! I was in the process of restoring and RV-6A but found many structural issues due to the method of build and was looking for a kit that someone was abandoning. While at Oshkosh my wife, Mary, and I went to the Van’s display. Mary suggested that I should […] Read More
Congrats to Jory on his new RV-14A, he writes: The first flight was conducted with safety pilot Robert Meyer from EAA Chapter 1445. It flew as expected and didn’t fail to provide the RV grin.
David flew his new RV-12iS! He writes: Flew Great! Built as a retirement project after a 35 year airline career flying the 12 is just fun. First flight flown from Boundry Bay Airport CZBB. For a little airplane it’s a real,performer!
Congratulations to Stig on his new RV-6! He writes: The RV6 #21007 finally became airborne 05/27/2025 at Hallviken airfield, Stromsund, Sweden (probably the slowest built RV in the world). Project started 1990 but was eventually halted for quite a few years when I was flying Boeings (727, 737 500; 700 and 800 for a danish […] Read More
Congratulations on the new RV-7A! After a 6 hours engine ground run test with shround installed… the oil and cht temperature tends to stabilized. On Friday, 02/07/2025.. Captain Adi Mutaqin act as test pilot for PK-S472 made a several high speed taxi and even hop on above grass runway. The engine roared to full, slowly […] Read More
Congratulations to Jeremy! He writes: First flight went perfectly, after 20 minutes landed and adjusted a heavy wing and high oil pressure. 7 hrs flight time now at day 2 and it flys perfectly as expected.
Congrats to Martin on the completion of his RV-6! He writes: After 30 years and a ‘journey’, my RV6 finally flew on 4 April 2025. First flight was from Latrobe Valley Airport in Australia. Thanks for the encouragement and support that got me there in the end. The project followed me through 5 different houses […] Read More
Another RV-6 takes to the skies! Congratulations Mark! First flight completed without difficulties under beautifully sunny Arizona skies. It flies quite straight with little trim to boot! What a rush, one of the most exciting (and nervous) days of my life. I’m the fourth owner of this kit, now completed aircraft and a kit no […] Read More
