FIrst FLights

Xavier writes in from France to share his first-flight announcement with us! Hello Van’s community, Another one completed after 10 years of building. Nothing to add about the 8… Fantastic, easy to fly, performance! Thanks a lot to Van’s support which is just the best. “My Little Dream” is powered by a IO360 (180hp), is […] Read More

Congrats to Mike, who writes with some great news and advice to people who are building: N612AW took to the skies after 8 years of building. Many thanks to my patient wife and family. Also thanks to the riveting help of Don Hornick. The help and support of all the RV owners at KRNM and […] Read More

Carl writes in to share: “Everything went as planned! very stable aircraft, all systems stayed in the green.”

After 30 months of Friday evening build sessions, N112YS had a discrete and uneventful first flight, with PAP test flight one completed by pilot Dallan Reese. A short public inaugural flight gave local supporters the chance to witness the building accomplishment of the seven high school students responsible for its construction, and also completed the […] Read More

Congrats to Gary on the huge milestone! After 18 years of building I finally flew my RV-7 today. First flight was 2.0 hrs. with the coaching and experience of Terry Lutz, CFI/APP. Landings are different than my Dragonfly.

Sometimes (often even!) it’s a family affair. Better watch what your kids ask for – they might get it! Congrats to Rick and family on the new airplane! We look forward to seeing and meeting you at AirVenture! In 2010 my younger son, in middle school at the time, suggested we go to AirVenture, this […] Read More

Congrats to the builders of this new RV-7 in South Africa earlier this year! A belated first flight report for RV7 ZU-WAB on 2 April 2019 (My wedding anniversary, yes you need an understanding wife for this project). Took three builders to complete on and off after first work done in June 2003. Test flew […] Read More

Greg Beckner writes in to share the story of his first couple flights in his new RV-14A! First two flights yesterday. Launched and flew without incident. The plane was straight and level hands off-amazing what the Van’s designers have accomplished. The plane is very sensitive so a deft touch is required. After landing we took […] Read More

Jeffrey Scott wrote in to tell us about his first flight with Dave Schmitz as Additional Pilot. Congrats on the new airplane, looks really nice! I purchased this kit 2nd hand, just past quick build stage, four years ago. Perfect timing to select interior, instruments, engine, prop, all the personal items. Sunday we had planned […] Read More

Congrats, Roger! Nice looking airplane! My RV-14 ZK-LBK flew here in New Zealand after 5 years and 7 months of building. First time build but great support from the Van’s Aircraft team. Flew beautifully and is a standard kit VFR machine with Dynon Skyview avionics suppled by Advanced Flight. Engine and prop the standard package […] Read More

Every RV story is special, but Mr Princeton’s RV-8A story is especially so. Congratulations and happy flying! It’s done; after 14 years my modified RV-8A, VH-XCP had its first flight on 26th April 2019 at the controls of my friend and celebrated Air Show Pilot Paul Bennet at our home airfield in the Hunter Valley […] Read More

Here’s the word from Jonathan on the maiden voyage of his RV-8: “First flight in the books! She flies like a dream, no surprise there. I’ve owned a RV-6 in the past and always dreamed of building an 8. I picked this one up as a partially completed project (quick build stage basically) just over […] Read More

Thierry writes in to tell the tale of this new RV-8! Hello Vans’ community, I am sending you this e-mail to let you know that RV-8 SN82013’s maiden flight took place in Toulouse – France on 08/13/2019. It took us 14 years to complete our RV-8. The engine is an Aero Sport Power IO-375 with […] Read More

Ed Hicks (editor of Flyer magazine in the UK) writes in to tell us all about the maiden voyage of the RV-8 that he and Steve Ayers built! Just over 7 years since we started planning for the project, RV-8 G-MIRV made it’s first flight on the 1st of July in the hands of co-builder […] Read More

Congrats to William Wilson on the first flight of his new RV-7A! After 7.5 years my RV-7A project has officially become an airplane as N247BW. Airworthiness inspection was performed on 8/2 by Ted Gauthier. The inspection went very well and I found the experience quite enjoyable. Immediately after the inspection was completed, all of the […] Read More

Congrats to Dan and Brian on the completion and first flight of their RV-7A! This build was a joint effort, both Brian and I have always loved the RV brand. Our build was initially started by Wayne Reese who purchased the kit from Van’s. Wayne built the wings and tail surfaces but due to health […] Read More

RV-8 slow build #82059 I forgot to inform you about my first flight in my new Van’s RV-8 – callsign OE-VFP. After 9 years slow-build time first flight was in June 2018 by my friend and also RV-8 builder Wolfgang Paungartner. After some training flights with Wolfgang, i was flying my airplane alone and safely. […] Read More

Congrats to TeenFlight in Puyallup, Washington on their fourth RV-12! TeenFlight Puyallup celebrated the first flight of their student built TF4 aircraft (RV-12 ULS), their 4th completed RV-12. Marv Scott piloted the plane and reported she flew great! A couple more flights will be made before delivering it to the paint shop. Final testing will […] Read More

Andy writes to tell us of the first flight of his RV-12 in Australia! I purchased the kit from a guy in Canberra who had lost his license and gave up on the build, it was my first plane build and it was so much fun. I elected to be a little different and put […] Read More