RV-12 Serial No. 120013, took to the air on 30 April 2010. Flies straight as an arrow and 118Kts at 5500 rpm. This is my second build, the first an RV-6A. Flies with your finger tips, just like the other RV's.

Thanks Vans!

             

     Norm Taylor
     Cannon Creek Airpark, Lake City, Florida
     [ rv6a-taylor at comcast.net ]

DAR approved on 06/03/10, first flight 06/08/10. Thanks to my beautiful wife Jeanie for her help and support. Also thanks to Carl Wright who built the airframe. Thanks to the guys at EAA 443 for their help.

Lonnie I. Rush
Pickerington, Ohio
[ lrush8 at sbcglobal.net ]

Hi to Van & the Gang,

First thank you for such a great product, I'm a third offender.

I built an RV-8A. Vital statistics are, weight 1155 lbs., engine HIO-360-E2D converted to close to an A1A, a used overhauled Hartzell propeller, Dynon D-180 with analog back up gauges & gyros. Total cost about $47,720.00 over a five year period. First flight was May 30, 2010, from Sacramento Executive Airport (KSAC). The aircraft is trimmed hands free after aileron profile adjustment. It does require left rudder during high cruise.

I had a lot of help from my friends. Nick Leonard was quality control & electrical wizard, Mark Zukowski was there always giving a helping hand and some cash, Kim Ioanidis helped build with cash and getting into the tight spots. Bob Cole, welded my custom exhaust, motor mount mod, towbar and gave a lot of advice. Ray Redden always there with technical know how, Sue Wiseman caught it all with the camera to record the progress, Bruce Walters was Mr. graphics. To Tony Machado and all my DGA Aviation Club members plus the North & South hangar gang, thank you!

Most of all I'd like to thank my beautiful wife and life partner of 45 years Michele "ma belle" she has endured many home projects undone. I had a blast with all my wonderful friends, thank you all.

             

         Stan Lawrence
         [ stan@mnsplace.com ]

Hi,

After dreaming for more than 30 years about building my own airplane, it became a reality when I retired from airline flying. I purchased a RV-9A kit and started looking for a place to build, which I found in Griffin, GA.

Renting space at the facilities of Don’s Dream Machines, I was able to complete the project in 2 years and 2200 hours of building time. It would not have been possible without the advice from Jeff Swords, who also did the fire- wall- forward and avionics installation. Don’s Dream Machines built me the engine and Tony Dias of Aircraft Refinishers did the aircraft painting. The DAR was Don Swords.

The engine is a Lycoming O-320-D3G powering a Catto 3-blade fixed pitch prop. Two Advanced AF-3500 monitors, plus a Garmin 300XL and 496 make up the heart of the instrument panel. One of the special features of the aircraft is the use of a center console, which I purchased from Bryan Fillman and then modified. The interior is from Classic Aero.

I flew the aircraft on its first flight on May 10, 2010 at Griffin, GA (6A2) and confirmed that I could not have chosen a better aircraft to build.

Thanks Van!

            

       Wolfgang Guhl
       Griffin, GA (6A2)
       [ wguhl at mindspring.com ]

After a lot of time and life, our RV-8 LV-X-418 serial number 80720 took off for first time today,with test pilot César Falistocco in command. It is a dream plane, and flew hands off, only minor instrument adjust needed.

It is equipped with Lycoming XIO-360 engine with Hartzell constant speed propeller, and weighed 1070 lbs empty. Thanks to everybody who support us!!

               

       Miguel Scalise
       Pablo Fernández
       [ pablo at molinoscabodi.com.ar ]
       Rojas, BA, Argentina

N581CH first flew on May 12, 2010. Good flight RV-8 IO-360 200hp Constant speed-Dynon panel

SN80581
George Hill
[ amsinc at msn.com ]

Hi

Another dream takes wings. On an August night in 2008 while lying in a tent at Oshkosh my husband and I dared to dream that we too could build our own aircraft. One thousand one hundred hours and twelve thousand plus rivets later, the dream became a reality.

On the morning of June 4, 2010, N775DJ received it's airworthiness certificate and it's first flight later that afternoon. This plane was a lot of fun to build and is going to be a great plane to fly. Thanks for all your help. Now just tell us how to get this RV Grin off our faces.

        David & Jane, 120126
        [ hemlockfield at windstream.net ]

Hello,

I am happy to report that N124JT - s/n 120025 finally flew its first flight on June 1, 2010. The building process went very well, but the last minute problems and details seemed to take forever. This aircraft took about half the time it took to build my RV-9A (N493JT - s/n 90740) in hours but almost the same in elapsed time.

I need to put a wedge on the rudder and get used to the different flying characteristics. My RV-9A with a constant speed prop I could dive to the ground and it would flare and immediately land, not so with the 12. It took 2 go-arounds on the first flight to get it on the ground and still floated half the runway.

         Jake DeHaan
         Byron Center, MI
         [ jtdehaan at sbcglobal.net

Hi,

After waiting out the rainy weather here in Washington (for weeks it seems), I was able to fly the First Flight in fairly good conditions out of Bremerton National Airport this morning (6/1/10). The plane handled great, responsive and very well mannered.

My kit was #202 and took about 17 months to complete in approximately 1150 man-hours. I could not be more pleased with the outcome. I am now looking forward to flying off my test cards and then a nice summer of RV-12 fun and a paint job.

  Click here to view Tony's RV-12 project photos

       Tony Tessitore
       [ atessitor at comcast.net ]

Hi,

Just thought I'd let you know that RV7 73044 flew today after nearly 3 years of building. It has lived up to all expectations.

Kind Regards,
Pete Hicks
Melbourne Australia
[ jenorpete@hotmail.com ]

Hello,

I'm happy to report that N868RV finally took to the air yesterday. I have been working on this project for 8 out of the last 9 years. My RV-8 weighed in at 1107 pounds and is equipped with a 180hp IO360 from Eagle Engines, and a Whirlwind 200RV prop. I'm using an AFS AF3500 EFIS with a Garmin 496, and Digiflight II autopilot in a VFR panel. The seats are outstanding and came from Classic Aero.

The first flight was on May 30, 2010. It was a cool calm Northern California morning. I couldn't believe how fast I got off the runway! The engine ran smoothly and I spent about 20 minutes orbiting the airport. The plane flew beautifully, with a centered ball and no heavy wing. The only squawks from the flight were small leak from a fitting on the oil cooler and a rough idle after landing. I'm chasing those problems down now and can't wait to fly again. Thanks to my wonderful wife and son for supporting my very expensive and time consuming hobby. Thanks also to Van's for a great design and all my EAA friends for their help and advice, especially my technical counselor, Kevin Quirk, and fellow builder, David Lynch. I've attached some photos of the big day.

      Craig Schwartz
      [ craig23 at sbcglobal.net ]

Today, May 31, I took my first flight in my RV-12, 787MS. S/N: 120073. I’d just finished Transition Training with Mike Seager in Vernonia, OR in Van’s RV-12. My plane flew just like Van’s. Looking forward to more flying. Thanks to all who have helped!

       

        John Sheffels
        Great Falls, MT
        [ 2johns at bresnan.net ]

Hallo,

nun ist es soweit, anbei 2 Fotos vom Erstflug 29.05.2010.

Euch allen vielen Dank für Eure Hilfe am Erfolg.

Viele Grüße aus Eisenach, Sigrid, Uwe und Familie

[ frenzel at tpgmbh.de ]

             

Subject: D-EASY, RV-10 40 300 first flight

Hi,

Now the time has come, please find attached two photos of the first flight 29/05/2010.

Thank you all for your help in the success.

Greetings from Eisenach, Sigrid, Uwe and family

[ frenzel at tpgmbh.de ]

Good news...RV-8 (Serial # 82674) now N8812T...flew first flight on May 15, 2010...out of Hicks Airport, Ft. Worth, Texas.

      Jay Davis
      [ jay700x at yahoo.com ]

First flight of N912RJ went off uneventful and the RV-12 flew perfectly. It just didn't want to land. That wing loves to fly. Shot four landings and everything just got better. 

All I can say is, "you're going to love it". So get 'em flying.

        Dick Jacobs
        Garland, TX
        [ richardljacobs at gmail.com ]

Please click the Vans Hobbs and add one RV-7A N963TP First Flight
May 24, 2010.

         

         Thanks,
         Paul Piepenbrok
         Vans 71758
         [ Paul_Piepenbrok at irco.com ]

Hi,

I wanted to tell the folks at Vans that C-GUED, RV-7 serial 72257 has taken to the air this month and that the owner (me!) is VERY happy at how it performs. It has taken me 5 years to complete but the wait was well worth it.

Thanks for your great kit and your awesome support.

       

        Truly yours,
        Denis Guérette
        Québec City, Qc. Canada
        [ denok at videotron.ca ]

Finally getting to push up the RV Hobbs meter. Actual first flight of my
RV-10 occurred on Feb. 25, 2009 after almost five years of building with a pause or two during this period. Can't thank Larry Perryman and Bud Warren enough for their help. Must also thank my wonderful wife for her support and encouragement throughout.

N730WL is powered by a Geareddrives LS1 V8 engine and a MT 3-blade constant speed propeller. I built a modestly equipped electric panel for day/night VFR missions which includes primary instrumentation GRT EFIS with GPS/Weather, TT ADI II autopilot and Lowrance 2000C GPS, SL40 radio, and Garmin GT327 transponder.

N730WL is a wonderful flying machine - a great cross-country bird. Thanks Van for a great kit and great design.

         

          Bill Gipson
          Conroe, Texas
          [gipsowh at hotmail.com ]

You can tally up another slow build RV-8 for Van's. 4 year project.

Jerry Hajek builder #82555
First Flight May 21, 2010
IO-390-EXP powered 210 hp
Dynon D-180 EIFS/EMS and a D-100 EIFS
Trio Pro Auto pilot

        

  Click here to see a YouTube video of construction and the first flight.
        
        Jerry Hajek
        Ellington Field
        Houston, TX
        [ jahajek at comcast.net ]

First Flight

Friday, May 21, 2010, Dave Lawrence's RV-12, N3312L, Ser.no.120076, transitioned from a kit to an airplane with a successful inspection by Al Kimball of the Orlando FSDO. It then proceeded to prove its airworthiness with air under the tires about noon. First flight at Florida's Palmetto Manatee Airport was typical, much anticipated and much enjoyed.

This project is the third completed RV of my father, Lin Lawrence: an RV-6A, N33EL, in 1993; an RV-9A, N339DL, in 2004 and now this RV-12, N3312L airborne one month after his death in April at age 93. Special thanks to Jerry Huffman who became the primary builder, his able helper Jerry Beavon, and test pilot Bill Bruner. This plane will take up residence in Maine after painting.

Thanks Van for a great design and kit.

       

Vans,

N12M, RV-6 serial # 60548, received airworthy status Wednesday May 19th. This morning, on the anniversary of the beginning of the Lindbergh Flight, we made the dream come true. It was a wonderful experience with only a couple of squawks. She has an O-320, Sensenich prop, Dynon Flightdeck D-180, and weighed in at 1004.

I look forward to the flight hours ahead, and am extremely happy to join the remarkable community of RV builders and flyers. Many thanks go out to all who helped.

        Mike Fitzpatrick
        Cleveland GA
        [ mfitzpatrick12 at hotmail.com ]

Dear Vans,

A quick note to advise that I took VH-GLD s/n 60047 to the sky for the first time on the morning of March 28th at Parafield in South Australia.

It is powered by a Superior 360 engine spinning a Sensenich fixed pitch propeller and is equipped with the six pack of gauges for the flight information and a Dynon 120 engine monitor. A Trio Avionics EZ auto pilot keeps me on track and at altitude supported by a Garmin 296 GPS.

The advice and support given to me by my son Ben a LAME at Parafield and his LAME colleagues was invaluable and very much appreciated. The aircraft has now completed 18 hours of perfect performance.

Graham Davis
QUORN SA AUSTRALIA
[ glgadavis at bigpond.com ]

Give the Hobbs another click because RV-9A N337CW has (finally) taken to the air! First flight on May 17, 2010 was a near perfect Maine May evening for flying. She flew beautifully & easily with no major squawks to report. Kit #90811 was started in 2003 with the "quickbuild" tail built at the Alexander Technical Center in Griffin, GA. From there on out it has been standard build kits built on my own slow pace and loving every minute of it (almost..).

It's powered with an Aerosport Power/ Superior O-320 D2A swinging a Sensenich fixed pitch prop. The panel is pretty & basic set up for day/night VFR.

Lots of help along the way primarily from my wife Cate with kids Lee & Caroline all helping all these years. The kids pretty much grew up with the plane in the shop but, as Cate says, "at least we always knew where you were".

Big thanks to the many who helped or inspired, especially the growing Maine RV community for stick time, riveting help, and critiques.

And finally a heartfelt thanks to Van & all the staff for a truly awesome airplane that's fun to build.

Looking forward to the Phase 1 test flying.

        Peter Webb
        Rockport, Maine
        [ peter at frenchwebb.com ]