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 to do it!
Congratulations to Adam on the completion and first flight of his RV-10! He reports: A little after 8 years of building, having a kid a year and a half in, and building a house, my RV-10 took to the skies on June 1st, 2024. Thankfully, it was the highest heart rate, most boring flight, which […] Read More
Congratulations to Bruce on completing his RV-14A. He shares: My second RV project took to the sky on 7/6/2024 after a rewarding 3yr 6mo solo slow build. First flight went well with only the expected higher oil temperature and a slight amount of right rudder needed for it to fly completely hands off. The 2500’+ […] Read More
Cheers to Jim and Joel of the completion and first flight of their RV-9A! They write: On a picture-perfect day in central Kansas, N295JJ took flight with two owner-builders on board. It added a tricky element to break in a newly overhauled engine at the same time as a new airframe, but the first flight […] Read More
Congrats to Bobby and Alex as they complete their first flight in their RV-10! Bobby reports: After 5 years, 9 months — and a ~12mo pause during COVID — we have an airplane! Alex and I (Bobby) have been dreaming of this day for many years and other than the fact that it actually flew, […] Read More
Cheers to Antoine of the first flight of his RV-8! He shares: All it took was one flight in an RV-8 with a very dear friend to pass on that touch of madness common to all aircraft builders. The same happened to my wife, and 8 years later, we completed our own RV-8. On Wednesday, […] Read More
Congratulations John on completing his first flight in his RV-12is! He reports: After many years of building, which of course took longer than anticipated due to raising a child, remodeling a house, and having a full-time professional pilot career, I finally finished my RV-12IS (which I began as a RV-12) and flew my first flight […] Read More
Congratulations Mark! He writes: After 18 years of slow building, N705JM finally took flight at KWEA in Texas. It’s been a long journey and I thank my patient family for supporting me in this endeavor. I also thank Joe G who provided mentorship and encouragement which ultimately made the finish line possible. This RV-8 is […] Read More
Congrats to Aitor on the first flight of his new RV-9A! He writes: I just realized I never updated you on my first flight. Almost a year later I’m done with phase one, what an incredible ride. N253LP flew for the first time on June 27th 2023. The flight was uneventful and provided an incredible […] Read More
Cheers to Dave on the completion and first flight of his RV-14! He reports: It took 4 years and 2400 hours to build my slow build RV-14. I enjoyed every minute. Many thanks to the builders at KFFC for their advice and tools. I also want to thank Steve Hicks for his very informative blog. […] Read More
Congratulations to Sobota for his first flight in his RV-7! He shares: Finally, after starting this project 12 years ago, it could be real. I started this kit in 2012 in France, stopped 3 years when I was moving to Switzerland as I didn’t have a garage in my house (I had to build a […] Read More
Congratulations to Jim for a successful first flight in his RV-10! He shares: We had N651DF signed off almost nine years to the day after building began. First flight was later that month. It flew true to form with great control, feel, and “hands-off” stability. We are deeply grateful for the support and encouragement of […] Read More
Cheers to Mark on a successful first flight in his RV-14! He writes: December 16th, 2023: It’s a day I will remember for the rest of my life. I got to carry out the 1st test flight of my newly completed RV-14. This was my second RV build, and I loved every minute of it. […] Read More
Congratulations to Gary on completing his first flight in his RV-12iS! He reports: On Mar 14, 2024, I had one of my great thrills to make my first flight in my new RV-12iS. I was fortunate to not to have any negative issues. The engine literally purred like a kitten. The flight controls were very […] Read More
Cheers to Simon on the completion and first flight of his RV-7! He writes: First flight was very exciting. I was filled with nervous anticipation during the short taxi to the end of the grass runway. All checks done, sun was shining, slight breeze down the runway. Full power 2650 rpm no problems, tail up […] Read More
Congratulations to Harlan for the completion and first flight of his RV-12iS! He shares: The first flight of my ELSA RV-12iS, sn:121134, went off without a hitch on February 9, 2024. I circled above KSTJ for half an hour, and it flew exactly like the SLSA RV-12iS that I took transition training in. I was […] Read More
Cheers to Mike for completing his RV-10 and first flight. He writes: After 6 years and nearly 2 months of building, RV-10 41779 took to the skies over Cold Lake, AB Canada for the first time. It was constructed using the QB option for wings and fuselage, with an Aerosport IO-540 D4A5 up front. G3X/GTN750 […] Read More
Congratulations to Steve on his first flight and completion of his RV-7! He reports: After 10 years of on and off building, C-FSMW finally took to the sky on Jan 7, 2024 at Edenvale Airport, Ontario, Canada. The weather was cold, the sky was grey, but the excitement of this moment was as if the […] Read More
Great work, Christoph, in completing his first flight in his RV-12iS! More adventures are to come. He shares: First flight on a beautiful day. The plane flew perfectly as expected, just pure joy. Thank you, Van’s, for making this wonderful kit and I hope you will successfully continue to build those kits for many more […] Read More
Congratulations to Scott on his first flight in his RV-10! He shares: Flight was mainly uneventful with a smooth takeoff and landing. The only squawk that needed to be addressed is that on departure, I recognized that the airspeed was showing values less than half of actual. I activated my backup alternate static air which […] Read More
Cheers to Job for conquering the skies in his RV-8A. Here’s to many more flights ahead! He writes: As can be seen this has been an on and off project for many years in between various other projects. I built it for me just the way I wanted it to be, hence the call sign […] Read More
