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FIrst FLights

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As of today, 11,446 RV aircraft have been completed and flown!

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!

First Flight Reports

Jim Phillips’ RV-10 | Bozeman, MT RV-10 #42084

A big day for Jim, whose RV just made its maiden voyage. He writes: First flight finally in the books. It took a long time … but it was worth the wait. It took every bit of perseverance I had near the end, but the moments where the plane started to come alive, e.g. first […] Read More

Ken Stockman’s RV-14A | Midland, MI (KIKW) RV-14A #140073

Celebrating Ken and his newly flying RV, he writes: Built N73XP in home pole barn (built for project) and final assembly at 3CM (Bay City, MI). Started build in July of 2013 and airworthiness certification in Sept 2023. First flight was by Ken on November 19, 2023. Very nervous leading up to the flight, until […] Read More

Pete O’Hare’s RV-12iS | Kent, United Kingdom RV-12iS #121334

Congrats to Pete on his new RV-12iS! He writes: Today, on August 5th, 2025, after four and a half years of planning, building and dreaming, G-UAPS took to the skies over the south-east of England for the first time with John Price (fellow RV-12iS builder) at the controls – marking the successful completion of a […] Read More

Giovanni Harder’s RV-7 | Paraguay RV-7 #72533

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

Dennis Isaksson’s RV-8 | 67 degrees north /Sweden RV-8 #83218

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

Megan Kraynak’s RV-10 | North Little Rock, AR RV-10 #41838

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

Engelien Wendell ‘s RV-6A | Spruce Creek FLY-in 7FL6 RV-6A #24456

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.

Richard Ernst’s RV-6A | Chicago, IL RV-6A #23205

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 Johnson’s RV-10 | Tomball, TX RV-10 #41968

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

Pat Geyer’s RV-7 | Metamora, MI RV-7 #74657

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

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