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 venues. 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 Andrew, who writes in to tell us: First flight by RAAus instructor Will Owen. One circuit. No issues. Very happy with Vans and kit. One of four flying in Western Australia.
William writes in to let us all know about his new RV-7 – Congrats! 12 yrs, 9mos and 1 day since starting construction. And it was a Quick Build! Hey, life is busy. Failure is not an option. I could not have done it without family support, as well as VAF, Mike Bullock’s and Dan […] Read More
We received this report from New Zealand about the first flight of this student-build RV-12. Congrats to the whole team! Peter Steers, project manager, selected 12 Young Eagles and Air Cadets to join the project “Hawkes Bay Student Aircraft Build.” The project was completely funded by grants from around the Hawkes Bay community. When completed […] Read More
Greg writes in to report the first flight of his new RV-8! I bought this as a project someone else had started. With LOTS of help, I finally got the airworthiness complete and enjoyed the first flight! What a great airplane – thanks Van’s Aircraft!
Mark Weaver sends in this report on the first flight of his new R-12iS! First flight performance was really good. Some minor tweaks to do before next flight, but flew as expected. Still grinning 4 hours later. Thanks, Van’s.
Congratulations to Mike on his new RV-7A! He writes: From the first flight I have only changed oil at 25 hrs. Quick build fuselage and wings made for easy build Used Aerothane paint Stein Air wiring, Garmin G3X duals, Garmin radio and transponder, classic interior. Great flying machine!
Congrats to Felice, who writes: In November 2019 my RV-14A, I-LJMA, made the first flight. The RV-14 is an extraordinary aircraft. Beautiful. Comfortable. Powerful. In flight he did very well, with great performances. Now we are doing the test flights and solving some problems: for example, we replace the kit brakes with other more efficient. […] Read More
Congratulations to Mike, who reports on the first flight of his new R-10: N66VK flew for the first time on October 5th, 2019 for just over 2 hours at 75% plus power. What an exciting flight, with few minor adjustments the plane now has close to 60 hours. The RV-10 is such an efficient, smooth […] Read More
Congratulations to Steven, who sends in a written report on the first flight of his RV-7: Not much of a story, just thought you would need confirmation of the first flight to add to the tally. 18 year build, kit built engine flying out of a high elevation airport (5200). Circled the airport throttle wide […] Read More
Congrats to Steve, who writes in the share: 3 years, 11 months start to finish! What a journey it has been. I can not describe in words the feeling I got when I pushed the throttle up for that first takeoff. She flew exactly as expected and only had to make a couple of minor […] Read More
Heiko writes in to report: My build partner Detlef did the first flight – Nothing unusual. Flight testing took until October 2018 with final certification in February 2019. OUV (German homebuild association “Oskar Ursinus Vereinigung”) greatly supported building and the certification with our LBA (Luftfahrtbundesamt). Trips to Italy, Croatia and to the French Atlantic Coast […] Read More
We received this brief report about the first flight of the Callaghan’s new RV-14: Awesome day, awesome airplane, awesome flight! Flew true with only need for minor rudder trim.
Congrats Simon on the first flight of his RV-10! Finally got her in the air and I am one very happy RV flyer. I can report 19 Months after commencing the build in April 2018 my RV10 VH-NWD flew for the first time. Pretty much went off without a hitch and is a dream to […] Read More
Congrats to Greg, who writes in with this report about the first flight of his new RV-8A: What a day! Conditions could not have been more perfect. After almost 20 years of off and on building – the time finally came! Did a practice flight with instructor Patrick Richardson and me in the right seat […] Read More
We received the following report about the first flight of Johan van Zyl’s RV-7: ZU-VZJ an RV-7 build immaculately by com pilot, instructor and AP, Johan van Zyl, had its maiden flight on Saturday 14 December 2019 at Springs airfield in South Africa. No problems to report, flies straight and level and is exceptionally fast. […] Read More
Congrats to Scott on the completion and first flight of his new R-10! Scott writes to tell us: It was a brisk Saturday December 7th morning at KENW with a few friends and most of my immediate family present for the first flight of N847CS. The plane was off the ground in what felt like […] Read More
Congrats to Steve and everyone involved in supporting him through the process of getting his new RV-14A ready for its first flight! Steve writes: First flight on July 14, 2019 was a success! Performance was spectacular – from acceleration pushing me into the seatback during takeoff, to climb out to 5,500′. Quickly dialed back to […] Read More
Congrats to the Students and Mentors of Southern Arizona Teen Aviation who completed their new RV-12iS! We are an organization that works with High School students. Thank you Eagles Nest and Teen Flight for the inspiration and coaching. Over the course of 2 1/2 years 15 students and 7 mentors worked on the plane. With […] Read More
Congrats to Chris on his new RV-7! It flew!!! After two military moves and five years, my RV-7 quickbuild slipped the surly bonds of Earth at Meadow Lake Airport (KFLY) in Colorado. I had so much help in this construction as documented in my first flight video. Thank you!!
Congrats to Daryl on the first flight of his new RV-1o! First flight was great! Airplane handled very well! Going to be a comfortable airplane to enjoy. I’m retired from Southwest Airlines, so I won’t be non-rev’ing anymore! Hah! Installed the Airflow Systems air conditioning and I’m so glad I did! Really makes a difference […] Read More