FIrst FLights

Ryan Evans’ RV-7A took to the skies for the first time. Here’s more: I hired Tom Berge to do the first flight and then my transition training.

Norman Hunger’s RV-6A flew for the first time after years of hard work. Here’s more: 28 years of building and painting in my garage. Homebuilt engine built with the customer build program at Aerosport Power in Kamloops, BC. First flight from CYNJ Langley.

Kyle Wallace’s RV-12iS flew for the first time. Here’s more: After nearly five years of patient assembly, the day had finally arrived. The morning began with a thorough preflight inspection. An experienced pilot, and RV-12iS builder would be the test pilot for this first flight. The Rotax 912iS engine, already well-tested during taxi runs, started […] Read More

Kent Dornink flew his RV-14A for the first time. Here’s more: A day all builders dream of and can’t believe it when the day comes. Great flight. The hour planned in flight went fast!

Robert Kopeika’s RV-12 took to the skies for the first time. Here’s what he had to say: Flew great. 1200 hours and 250 Young Eagles since 2015. 

Brian Berryhill flew his RV-14A for the first time. Here’s more: After losing my Cessna 182 when the airport flooded during Hurricane Helene, I purchased the kit partially assembled by another builder. He already had all kits except the firewall forward and already had an engine/prop. Immediately after taking delivery, I ordered avionics from Advanced […] Read More

Jonathan Howard’s RV-14 flew for the first time. Here’s more: This all started with a flight up the California coast, convincing my better half we should get a plane. Why buy when you can build? Three years and four months later, it all came down to one special day. Thank you for all the support […] Read More

George Fahmy’s RV-7 flew for the first time. Here’s more: After a 10 year journey, I finally flew N890GF for the first time. With my wonderful ground crew (my family) on the radio, and on the cameras, I performed a normal takeoff. When I climbed up to 900 ft, the engine stumbled and lost power […] Read More

John Salak recently flew his RV-12 for the first time. Here’s what he had to say: First flight was just over 10 years from the start of building. I made an early decision to go EAB because of the Honda 110 engine and installing an Avidyne IFD540 navigator. 100% custom wiring and panel (Dynon Skyview, […] Read More

Doug Hine’s RV-10 recently took the skies for the first time. Here’s what he had to say: After 6 years and 1 month, 235MM took to the skies. Beautiful Colorado morning. Pikes Peak in the background. Definitely had the “RV Grin” upon taxiing back. Thanks to Tom and Shawn for their advice and an occasional […] Read More

Stefan Schroeter’s RV-10 has gone aloft for the first time. Here’s more: My RV-14A wasn’t in the air yet when I let myself be persuaded to join a building project for a four-seat RV-10 as part of a building community. Based on my experience building my RV-7 and two RV-14s, the build was supposed to […] Read More

The Gentry and Brown RV-10 has flown! But there’s more to the story: One couple moving across states in Australia to build their dream, an RV-10. Why move? A number of reasons: The house in Perth Western Australia was not big enough and no real carport that was sealed. The nearest airport was 40 km […] Read More

“Today was a good day” for Mike Mitchell and the first flight of his RV-14A. Here’s more of the story: Throughout the entire build process, the goal is always a completed and fully functional flyable aircraft yet the finish line seems to sometimes stretch beyond reach. Until the day you tell yourself, “it’s time to […] Read More

The Wakeham/Nayeri RV-7 just flew in the U.K. The brief (!) report is as follows: Flew exactly as expected, raised a few eyebrows on the spotters group as the portable ADS-B was programmed as an [Airbus] A320!

Raymond Labonte’s five years of building paid off with a first flight of his RV-14: After a 5 year and 4 days build RV-14 serial number 140800 was launched for its first flight from the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport on 10/11/25. All went as expected and proved that 5 years of effort was well worth […] Read More

Matthew Rivard made it two 10s in two days to get to first flight. Here’s more: I completed the first flight of my RV-10, N238MJ, and I’m happy to report it was entirely uneventful, with everything going exactly as planned. The aircraft performed perfectly in all phases of flight and flew true right out of […] Read More

Greg Hartt’s RV-10 has flown for the first time. Here’s the story: After 5 long years of building and a few months of waiting on the FAA, I was able to obtain my airworthiness certificate and hold the first flight a couple days later. I had to wait from some ceilings to open up but […] Read More

Paul van Sandwyk’s RV-6A has completed a 32-year build odyssey to become the latest RV-6A to take flight. Here’s his story: At Oshkosh in 1992 Jerry VanGrunsven took me up for a “free” ride in Van’s demonstrator. Shortly after I purchased the plans for RV-6A #22320. The empennage kit was shipped, by sea, in December […] Read More

Thomas Davidson flew his RV-9A for the first time, and earns his way into the “man of few words” finals for 2025! He says: Flew straight and true, stall performance as expected. Very fun to fly!

Sometimes life throws you curves balls during a build, but Ron Ingram did not shy away from the challenge. He shares a little about the build of his new RV-6A. In 2002, I decided to take the plunge and build an RV-6A. I had already started the work on a Dragonfly, but the RV was […] Read More