Paul van Sandwyk’s RV-6A | Western Australia (rural area) RV-6A #22320

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 1992. In March 1993 I started the hands-on work.

Building a plane has been a lifelong dream and a total DIY project for me (as a first-time builder). When starting on the project in my naive youth, I was undaunted by tasks like riveting the wing spars with a dumpy hammer on the garage floor and planned to have the whole build done within three years.

All of the construction, wiring, engine installation, instrumentation, painting and upholstery (by my wife) has been done in-house, so it really is a “home built” aeroplane. Overall, it has been an extremely rewarding project, even though it took so long to complete (“life got in the way”) and has honestly been the most difficult challenge I’ve ever had.

The first flight took place this morning from our 2000-foot-long farm strip. We got up early to beat the heat and the Australian flies. The flight was uneventful, and it took about 20 minutes to confirm that everything was working as expected, before landing. I’m looking forward to celebrating tonight. Next will be flying the rest of the Phase 1 tests, followed by adventures wherever she takes us.

Thank you, Van, for a great design and kit and all of the education and entertainment that it generated in my workshop, as well as the much-anticipated monthly RVator in the early days and the many supportive people who I’ve met!