We learn of flying RVs in many different ways. Ideally, a builder will email us with a photo of his or her personal “RV grin.” Sometimes, they call on the phone, which is great but doesn’t provide us with anything to publish on the web. Sometimes 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 other occasions, we learn of a new batch of flying RVs from “RV factories” overseas, but without the individual details.
We’d like to see more RV grins here, so please send in 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!
Congrats to Thomas on his first flight! Here is his report: After 5.5 years of building from slow kits, my RV-14A took flight. I have to thank John B. for doing the honors, I know when I am out-skilled and left it to his very capable hands. The plane flew beautifully and the Thunderbolt Lycoming […] Read More
Congrats to Mark on his new RV-14a, and for being chosen to display it at Oshkosh this year in the Lycoming booth! His report: After 3 years of construction, N435MD took flight for the first time. The plane is even more fun to fly than it was to build, and I really enjoyed the building […] Read More
Brian writes in about the first flight of his RV-7! Congrats! This is the aircraft I have always wanted: it is a dream to fly, short take-off roll, climbs without effort, extremely light on the controls and super quick, we were 167 Knots indicated at 25″ and 2500 rpm. Staying close to the field when […] Read More
A big thumbs-up from Tim: “First flight went Great. No issues or problems. Have just finished phase one testing. Very capable aircraft.”
Ken’s quick report below. And yes, it’s a bigger plane, but it’s an awesome “truck!” Second time offender: Rv-4 flown 3/98, sold 4/18. RV-10 flown 6/20/19, very uneventful. Like flying a truck compared to the 4.
Greg reports on the recent first flight of his new RV-7A! Van’s Aircraft Kit #73657 took to the skies on December 18, 2018, exactly eight years to the day from the first rivet squeezed, thus realizing my life long dream of building and flying my own aircraft. Better late than never! RV alumni and test […] Read More
Congratulations to Klaus and Ricardo on their new RV-14A! This RV-14A was built by Klaus Knop and Ricardo Guzman in Viña Del Mar, Chile. Construction started in June 2016 from a complete kit and finished June 2018. Installed is a Lycoming OM-390 210HP engine with a 2 blade propeller. The aircraft is fitted with two […] Read More
As short and sweet and you can get on this one from David, his first flight was summed up thusly: “Just delightful to fly!!”
RV-9A N748PK’s airborne debut was a complete success, except for a glitch in not-as-redundant-as-I-thought avionics. Perfect CAVU day, 59F OAT, altimeter 29.98, wind 290 at 5 kts. Additional pilot Barry Weber (right seat) and I (left) rolled up to the movement area 30 seconds before Livermore Tower (KLVK) opened at 0700 local time. Chase pilot […] Read More
My RV has a Superior XP 360 with a Sensenich fixed pitch prop. I installed a single 10-inch Dynon HDX panel with only a ASI and Altimeter analog backup. After a thorough preflight by by myself and my test pilot, we started up and taxied to the threshold. We did a quick power check and […] Read More
RV-12, known as Builder# 120822, Registration# N119RG earned it’s wings of flight on July 13, 2019 as an E-LSA. After some initial adjustments to the flaperons to neutralize a heavy right wing, N119RG flies very stable with great characteristics. Dual G3X touch screens provide excellent situational awareness and guidance. The paint scheme has been chosen […] Read More
Anthony sends us this belated first flight report! RV-6 ZU IKP was built by repeat RV builder Mark Munro in Johannesburg, South Africa taking 14 months to complete. She has a Lycoming 0-360 A-1-A 180hp engine swinging a fixed pitch P-Prop. The aircraft is fitted with the MGL Explorer EFIS and is simple and light […] Read More
Congratulations to repeat RV-builder James on the first flight of his RV-10! We purchased the kit from the builder in 2008 in Colorado who had built the tail section and loaded it in a truck and drove it to Alabama. We began working on it right away, working on it as time and funds permitted. […] Read More
Congrats to Christian on the first flight of his new RV-8! I made the first flight of my slow-build RV-8 without any snags. It flies straight and fast. Equipped with YIO-360 180 HP, 3-blade MT, Grove landing gear and Beringer wheels and brakes. Have 10 hours on the plane now, engine temps are quite low, […] Read More
Congratulations to Kenneth on the completion and the first flight of his RV-12! I purchased a tail kit that was partially complete in 2014. After one move and two years of health problems it was completed. The first flight went great the only problem was a carb. float on the Rotax 912 ULS. Hope to […] Read More
Congrats to John on the first flight of his new RV-7A! After 16 years kit #71342 became airborne 7/11/19 at Kenosha Regional Airport (KENW) in southeast Wisconsin. Due to clouds at 3,000 feet we had to keep the first flight orbits close in to the airport, which was interesting when at full power a lot […] Read More
Dmitry and Maximillian write in to tell us of the first flight of their new RV-7A! What an amazing airplane! Flight was as uneventful as we had hoped for and lasted for about one hour. The flight was performed by our friend and CFI Rolf Wengorz. Only a few minor squawks we have mostly ironed […] Read More
Congratulations to Magnus on the first flight of his RV-14! After enjoying building the aircraft for almost five and a half year it was finally time to fly. I built the aircraft in my garage, next to my house, mainly on late evenings when the kids had gone to sleep. I would not have been […] Read More
David Catt writes in to tell the world about the first flights of the new RV-8, which were piloted by David and Paul Shenton in the UK! First flight was 20 minutes duration with Paul Shenton as the pilot and went without out a hitch and no problems to report. This was followed by a […] Read More
Congrats to Patrick on the first flight of his RV-9! He writes to tell all of us: N631PB “Chuck” named after our Lab had its first flight today after six years in the making. What an amazing airplane! Thank you to all my friends and family who have been so patient with me over the […] Read More