Congratulations to Woodies Aircraft Factory on their new RV-12iS: Brian Lloyd, myself, Mark Fotherby, and Robbie Stewart, collectively known as Woodies Aircraft Factory embarked on our big adventure in March 2017. This marked the date when the first pieces of metal were cut, and the first of many, many rivets were set. It all seemed […] Read More
Christian flew his RV-8 for the first time, congratulations! After 3000 hours in 6.5 years of building my standard kit RV-8, I finally took off for the first time in Basel, Switzerland (LFSB). I tested the control behavior in clean and landing configuration and after a couple turns I returned for landing. The hobbs showed […] Read More
Congratulations to Matthew on his new RV-12iS! He writes: I started my dream when the pandemic was fresh news in early 2020. My Father and I took a trip south for a factory tour. Met by a busy staff -they were happy to give a tour of the facility. After the tour The Man himself […] Read More
Congratulations to Mike! He writes: Excelsior flies! 10 years, 2000+ hours and one hurricane (note lack of hangar doors!). Standard build, Titan IOX-370, C/S, G3X, GNX375, A/P, Lemke seats, John Stahr paint. Started build in the family room (with encouragement from awesome wife Kathy), finished in a new airconditioned man-cave/shop. Wearing my RV-6 anniversary shirt in homage […] Read More
David wrote in to let us know about the recent flight of his RV-9A: A lifelong dream was realized on December 10th 2022. After 7 years of building N965DR took to the skies and became an airplane. Although I did most of the work myself, I had plenty of help along the way. My family […] Read More
Congratulations Greg! He writes: After nine and a half years of hard work (and a lot of learning on my part), my RV-7 finally took to the air. Many thanks to all of the people that helped me make this possible. I can’t image that I would have ever been able to complete it without […] Read More
Congratulations to Ryan on his new RV-7A! He writes: After six years of building, I conducted N12VD’s initial test flight out of Livermore, CA (LVK). The airplane flew very well, straight as an arrow. CHTs were high on initial climb-out, but easy to control with additional airspeed. Tested all control surfaces including trim and flaps, […] Read More
Jeff recently completed his second RV. What an accomplishment! Jeff writes: My first Van’s kit was an RV-6 that took me 23 years to complete in 2010. Not having 23 more years I decided to go with a quick build RV-10, and with my son Jeff’s help, N3360V first flew uneventfully in Oct, 2022 with […] Read More
Congratulations to Denny on the first flight of his RV-8A! He writes: After 9 months of delays getting my FAA registration documents sorted out, it was appropriate to use Veterans day as the first flight. The tail number, N399HP is my daughters Birth Month, Year and her initials. She now serves in the US Military. She […] Read More
Congratulations to Mike on his new RV-14! He writes: Great First Flight. Many new skills learnt. Avionics and paint were the most daunting! G-RVDD flew straight and true on its first flight. Testing now complete and await the issue of my U.K. Permit to Fly Nov 22.
A big congratulations to Joop Sint Jago on the completion and first flight of this new RV-7 in The Netherlands! Five years and a bit after my son and I started the tail-kit class at Synergy (Eugene), PH-YAR took the skies for the first time. And there was no sign that this was her first […] Read More
Congrats to Valdimir on the completion and first flight of his new RV-10! He writes to tell us: After 3 years of building my airplane went for its maiden flight on Nov 12, 2022. It was an amazing journey for my family and me to build this airplane during the past years. This airplane really […] Read More
Congratulations to Tim Arnold on the first flight ohis new RV-7! He told us: Not sure what say. Its just awesome!!!! Thank you to the staff at Van’s for the support and great service over the years. Tim A
Congratulations to Marlon Young on the first flight of his newly-completed RV-4! Marlon writes: Just after 3:01 on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022, Redtail N301FS took to the air for a one-hour flight. Kit 1565 was purchased and started about 30 years ago but got stalled and sat in a garage for almost 15 years […] Read More
Scott Stweart gets a big “congrats” on the completion and first flight of his new RV-12iS! He writes: What an incredible journey! Wicked, crazy fun every step of the way, from placing the Empennage kit order through the first flight. Great support by family, friends, the aviation community and many at Van’s. AWC in hand […] Read More
A big congrats to Glen Fuller in Australia on the completion of his RV-9A! He writes: After a very long build Scarlet, our RV-9A, took to the skies from Jandakot airport, Perth Western Australia. She flies extremely well and to all the Van’s specs. She’s fitted with a Garmin G3X EFIS, autopilot and houses a […] Read More
Congratulations to Dave Hock on the first flight of his new RV-7! He writes: After 2,900 hours of building interrupted a couple of times with life events RV-7 N732DH took to the skies on November 1st, 2022! I have to say it was one of the biggest events in my life after marriage and the […] Read More
Congrats to Andrew Kilroy on the first flight of his new RV-14A! He wrote to let us know: The first flight was eventful! Took off in chilly, calm conditions and noticed that my airspeed went dead five seconds after take off. I did a simple pattern and landed (without airspeed). In just the first 4 […] Read More
Congrats to Richard on completion and first flight of his RV-14A! He writes: I started building my RV-14A in 2016 and my first flight was on 10-21-2022. The building process was a labor of love. There was sweat. I live in Arizona and my hangar is not air conditioned. There was occasional blood. Metal is […] Read More
Congratulations to Greg Long, who writes to tell us all about the build and first flight of his RV-12, and includes a video as well! Building my own plane has been a dream for most of my life. Since 1986 when I completed my private pilot license, I flew various club planes including Cessna and […] Read More
