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!
Dona’d Stehler’s RV-14A flew for the first time. Here’s more: It took about seven years to build. I wish I had finished it sooner! It’s a joy to fly, and I’m hoping to take it to Oshkosh this year. YouTube videos of the first flight (I am the test pilot): First take-off: First Landing:
Carl Peltzer’s RV-14A flew for the first time. Here’s more: After over 12 years of building N272GB took to the air! She flew very well. Landing was very smooth!
Robert Ensley’s RV-14A flew for the first time. Here’s more: Nice lift off from KVCB at 8 AM with calm winds. Stable take off climb at 1,000 ft/minute up to flight level 5,000 ft agl. First hour of flight recorded Engine break-in temps between 377 to 403 averages. Airframe was also stable in turns and […] Read More
Eileen Bjorkman’s RV-8 flew for the first time. Here’s more: I took my RV-8 into the air at 10:27 this morning (June 1) at the airport in Eugene, Oregon and flew for about 30 minutes. The plane flew very well overall except for some right wing heaviness. The low-pitch stop on the propeller also needed […] Read More
Bob Collins’s RV-12iS flew for the first time. Here’s more: The first flight of the second RV I’ve built was a quick ferry flight to a nearby airport as my home airport does not allow experimentals to return under they’re out of Phase I. Flight testing was relatively uneventful with adjustments quickly made. This is […] Read More
Peter Nunn’s RV-3 flew for the first time. Here’s more: Quite uneventful. Climbed overhead field to 2500, practiced landing and did one. Huge RV Grin at end of it.
David and Evelyn Harris’s RV-12iS flew for this first time. Here’s more on the project and flight: N912EH, a Vans RV-12iS, had her first flight on Monday. My daughter Evelyn, a senior Aeronautical Science major at Embry-Riddle in Prescott, came out to be the test pilot. All systems were normal. She emerged with the RV […] Read More
Jerre Hill’s RV-12 flew for the first time. Here’s more: I’m hereby claiming the title of “Longest Time to Build an RV-12.” After 14.5 years, including a move from North Carolina to Colorado, I made the first flight on 5/12/2026. My friend/CFI Bill Snodgrass was my additional pilot. No heavy wing, no leaks, the airplane […] Read More
Eric Wingert’s RV-12iS flew for the first time. Here’s more: The first flight was on a breezy afternoon. The airplane flew flawlessly, as if it’s flown a hundred times prior. Couldn’t be happier as I get to know my project in a new way. What a machine!
Barry Doman’s RV-12 flew for the first time. Here’s more: Nervous and excited all in one. It’s been ready since last week from my local SAAA AP visit followed by a propellor balance the next day, weather and work got in the way until today. Perfect northern Victorian day, zero cloud no wind, and 21 […] Read More
Olafur Arnason’s RV-8 (with the help of four others) flew for the first time after almost two decades of building. Here’s more: First flight completed on a clear crispy day in Iceland. The construction took only 19 years and 3,000 hours logged. Yeah, building was slow, but we got the job done. We had a […] Read More
Frank Owens’s RV-9A flew for the first time: Great flight, no squawks.
Todd Wiechman’s RV-7 flew for the first time. Here’s more: After building many other RVs, I finally built my dream machine! It has all of the equipment I wanted, including complete Garmin panel (Dual G3Xs, 650xi, etc.), leather interior, Supertrack mod, almost RV-14 mod, and many other small mods. First flight went AWESOME! No squawks […] Read More
John Dawkins’ RV-7 flew for the first time. Here’s more: ZK-JDS flew successfully for the first time from Ardmore on March 5th, 2026. It was a good flight with no significant issues. The aircraft is powered by a Lycoming IO-360 M1B engine driving a Hartzell constant speed propeller. It is equipped with two 10” Dynon […] Read More
Wes Hewitt’s RV-10 flew for the first time. Here’s more: Today, years of hard work paid off and N837EL took its first flight! Thank you so much to my friend Ryan Allen (three-time builder) for piloting the first flight. The airplane flew great minus a little lower oil pressure than we would have liked. That […] Read More
John Krug’s RV-9A flew for the first time. Here’s more on the RV’s build story: After two years, nine days, and a total of 1,100 hours dedicated to building, N820JN finally took to the skies for its maiden flight yesterday. This milestone marks the culmination of countless hours of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. Throughout […] Read More
Florian Gruenberg’s RV-8 flew for the first time. Here’s what he had to say: A childhood dream became reality when two passionate builders brought this outstanding aircraft to life. A perfect blend of cross-country performance and pure flying fun. The first flight of D-EXFL, performed by builders Florian Gruenberg and Lars Schoettler, took place in […] Read More
Tiziano Ponti’s RV-14A flew for the first recently. Here’s more: Taking to the skies in a plane you’ve built with your own hands – even if you started with a kit – is an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience. It brought back memories of the thrill of my first solo flight, which took place decades […] Read More
Thomas Dieker’s RV-8 flew for the first time. Here’s more on the journey from first rivet to first flight: My very first rivet was set at a free workshop at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. At the time, I really had no idea what I was doing, I just thought building an airplane sounded like something I […] Read More
Eric Vickery’s RV-10 took to the skies for the first time. Here’s more: After nearly four years of building and three months of waiting after passing the designated airworthiness (DAR) inspection, I finally got N731VF in the air. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful first flight. No issues whatsoever except my less than […] Read More
