FIrst FLights

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

Jeffrey writes in to tall us about the first flight of this RV-14A! The first flight was delayed for several days by spark plug fowling that kept the lower plugs from firing. After cleaning all the oil off the lower plugs several times and getting the engine up to temperature we were able to get […] Read More

Bruce Swayze writes in to share the story of his RV-7A’s first flight. Congrats, Bruce! The first flight of my RV-7A is the culmination of years of work and attention to detail, and it’s almost surreal that it’s finally happening! This was a standard-build kit (not quick build). Since I’m still working on my PPL, […] Read More

Graham Leembrugen’s #22246 RV-6A flew today 21st November 2019. The slow build started in 1993 and all Graham’s friends are very pleased to see his aircraft finally take to the air from his grass strip… VH-XHG is powered by 0-320 turning a Burnie Warnke 70/74 wood propeller. Test Pilot for the flight was Greg McFarlane.

Congratulations to Ian Chapman, who write in about his first flight: On Sat 12 Oct 2019 after 25 years of construction Van’s RV-6 ZK-VNZ #23570 took to the air with David Wilkinson (RV-8 ZK-WLK) at the controls. It was fantastic watching an aircraft that one has constructed in the garage at home lining up on […] Read More

Congrats to Bill Sallee on the first flight of his new RV-9! He writes in to tell us: Bought from a gentleman from Wisconsin that spent 10 plus years building and decided to sell, I finished her up and took her for her first flight, besides a couple of minor squawks, she flew straight and […] Read More

Greg writes in to tell us all about the first flight of his new RV-8A – Congratulations! It was a long time coming but it’s finally flying. My wife Dianne and I ordered our tail kit at SUN & FUN International Fly-In & Expo in 1998. I was given a demonstration flight in an RV-8 […] Read More

Steve writes in with his great news! Congrats! 1st flight of my new RV-7 performed by my good friend Rory Hansen (RV-6 builder/owner) and myself departing Payson (KPAN) around 4:30pm lasting a little over an hour as I worked to get the engine moving along on the break-in process, doing some basic stability tests, trim […] Read More

A belated report, but exciting and fun – Congrats to Denis! “After almost 40 years of flying helicopters it was time to fly some fixed wing A/C. After 12 years of part time building it all came together on Nov. 15, 2018. C-GWHL took off from Kingston (CYGK) and went up for initial flight. The […] Read More

Congrats to Denis on his new airplane! “After 9+ years of building the first flight is now in the books. EAA Chapter 33 Flight Advisor, Dave Lammers, sat in the right seat as my QP. There a few small things to adjust, but overall the flight went very well. Looking forward to many more.”

Well after 8 years and 8 months of building (and a ton of help) I finally received my Certificate of Airworthiness. Have been through Mike Seager’s training in the RV7 plus a few flights in a couple other taildraggers, I just needed the weather to cooperate. November 7th turned out to be the day, and […] Read More

John sends a couple photos and brief but exciting update on his first flight: “Slow quick build interrupted by work but flying at last. Fantastic aeroplane.”

Congrats to Ray, who writes: Had instructor Bob Salway ride with me. Weather at CYXX [Abbotsford] was CAVOK with no wind. Aeroplane is a slow build with a Titan O-320 D1A and a hartzell propeller. It has all Van’s steam gauges and a sliding canopy. The aeroplane jumped off the ground and established a positive […] Read More

Congratulations to Michael and July on their new airplane! They wrote in to tell us: July and I took just over 3 years to build the RV-10 quick build kit. We have a Barrett engine, Hotel Whiskey extended tanks, Anti Splat cowl flaps, airflow air conditioning and a panel by Rob Hickman’s team at advanced. […] Read More

Congrats to Lorenzo on the first flight of his new RV-9! After almost five years of what I thought would be a year, we took flight today. The 9 flew flawlessly for an hour with five great landings. I dedicate this plane to my dad for all the projects we never got in the air […] Read More