RV-8/8A

High Performance with a Fighter-like Feel.

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Speed and Agility: No other RV is faster. With a top speed of around 220 mph, the RV-8 gets you there quickly while delivering excellent performance on the lower end of the scale plus quick, responsive handling.
Centerline Seating: Nothing beats sitting right in the middle of the airplane. Wear it like a glove - it becomes a natural, intuitive extension of your body.
Aerobatics: Want to do some loops and rolls? The RV-8 is a fully aerobatic-capable airplane, stable and responsive. You'll even see RV-8's competing in sportsman and intermediate categories.
Pure Good Looks: Let's face it. The RV-8 is one hot-looking machine. Often outfitted in military or other attractive paint schemes, and with a fighter-like slider canopy, this aircraft gets looks wherever it goes.

Overview

The RV-8/8A provides the fighter-like feel of center-line seating, with a wide fuselage and cockpit that accommodates large people in comfort. Two baggage compartments, one forward and one aft, keep even large amounts of luggage well within the weight and balance envelope. Pilots up to 6’7″ fit in the front. A Tall Pilot option is available (It was used by one successful builder who describes himself as 6’ 10″, although we think he might be taller). Passengers almost as big find the rear seat fits them, too. Factory pilots have flown demo rides with passengers up to 6’9″ and 260 lbs in the back seat.

The RV-8’s almost-perfect control balance and harmony and the excellent visibility make aerobatics a delight. At the aerobatic gross weight of 1600 lbs., the RV-8/8A complies with the +6/-3G standards of the FAA’s Aerobatic Category and can still carry two people, making it possible for a new pilot to get aerobatic instruction before he or she starts rolling and looping.

RV-8: With the little wheel mounted on the back, the conventional-gear RV-8 provides the popular combination of great looks and high performance. With a slightly lower drag profile, it may be just a hair faster than its tricycle-gear brother.
RV-8A: Configured to stand on tricycle-gear, the RV-8A retains the model's famous great looks and performance, adding improved visibility on the ground. Once in the air, you'll forget where the wheels are, as both models handle and perform just about identically.

Model	RV-8
Engine	150 - 210 HP
Top Speed	220 mph
Ceiling	21,000+ ft
Stall Speed	58 mph
Fuel Capacity	42 US gal
Seats	2
Baggage	125 lbs

RV-8

Solo Weight 1400 lbs	160 hp	180 hp	200 hp
Top Speed	206 mph	214 mph	222 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft]	197 mph	204 mph	212 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft]	175 mph	182 mph	189 mph
Stall Speed	51 mph	51 mph	51 mph
Takeoff Distance	300 ft	275 ft	250 ft
Landing Distance	350 ft	350 ft	350 ft
Rate of Climb	2,000 fpm	2,300 fpm	2,700 fpm
Ceiling	21,000 ft	22,000 ft	25,600 ft
Range [75% @ 8000 ft]	855 sm	790 sm	780 sm
Range [55% @ 8000 ft]	1,030 sm	955 sm	940 sm

Gross Weight 1800 lbs	160 hp	180 hp	200 hp
Top Speed	205 mph	213 mph	221 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft]	195 mph	203 mph	210 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft]	173 mph	180 mph	187 mph
Stall Speed	58 mph	58 mph	58 mph
Takeoff Distance	650 ft	575 ft	500 ft
Landing Distance	500 ft	500 ft	500 ft
Rate of Climb	1,400 fpm	1,650 fpm	1,900 fpm
Ceiling	18,500 ft	20,500 ft	22,500 ft
Range [75% @ 8000 ft]	855 sm	790 sm	780 sm
Range [55% @ 8000 ft]	1,030 sm	955 sm	940 sm

RV-8A

Solo Weight 1400 lbs	160 hp	180 hp	200 hp
Top Speed	204 mph	212 mph	220 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft]	195 mph	202 mph	210 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft]	173 mph	180 mph	187 mph
Stall Speed	51 mph	51 mph	51 mph
Takeoff Distance	300 ft	275 ft	250 ft
Landing Distance	350 ft	350 ft	350 ft
Rate of Climb	1,900 fpm	2,200 fpm	2,600 fpm
Ceiling	20,000 ft	22,000 ft	24,500 ft
Range [75% @ 8000 ft]	845 sm	780 sm	770 sm
Range [55% @ 8000 ft]	1020 sm	945 sm	930 sm

Gross Weight 1800 lbs	160 hp	180 hp	200 hp
Top Speed	203 mph	211 mph	219 mph
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft]	193 mph	201 mph	208 mph
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft]	171 mph	178 mph	184 mph
Stall Speed	58 mph	58 mph	58 mph
Takeoff Distance	650 ft	575 ft	500 ft
Landing Distance	500 ft	500 ft	500 ft
Rate of Climb	1,350 fpm	1,600 fpm	1,800 fpm
Ceiling	17,500 ft	19,500 ft	21,500 ft
Range [75% @ 8000 ft]	845 sm	780 sm	770 sm
Range [55% @ 8000 ft]	1020 sm	945 sm	930 sm

Aircraft Specs Performance Details

Highlights

The large 42-gallon fuel capacity and efficient airframe provide long range and high cruise speeds, so long distances can be covered easily. The speed and the excellent climb rate provide options for dealing with weather and terrain that simply aren’t available to most pilots. Handling, on the ground or in the air, is typical RV: exciting and responsive, but never “twitchy” or unpredictable.

The sliding canopy is built around a sturdy steel roll bar and fixed windshield. It must remain closed in flight, but the standard fresh air ducts provide plenty of fresh air to both seats. The RV-8/8A is designed to be flown from the front seat, although a rear stick is provided and a rear throttle and rudder pedals are optional.

Like all RVs, the RV-8/8A climbs well, lands slow and goes fast. Unlike earlier RV models, the RV-8/8A was designed to accept the 200-horsepower IO-360 Lycoming. The prototype outfitted with this engine demonstrated truly remarkable performance. With a single occupant, it would take off in 250’ and climb out at 2600 fpm — performance that had tower controllers asking “what kind of airplane is that?!” In 2020, Van’s approved the 210 HP Lycoming IO-390A for use on the RV-8/8A aircraft as well.

However, the fact that the RV-8 can accept a large engine doesn’t mean that it needs it. Traditional engine options – 150-180 HP Lycomings – have been retained. Probably the majority of flying RV-8/8As are powered by a 180 HP engine, and with these lighter engines performance is still exciting – and handling is even better.

If you like sitting in the middle – and enjoy responsive, agile and capable airplanes – the RV-8/8A should suit you well.

History

In 1995, Van’s decided to re-visit the tandem seating concept. Even though the side-by-side RV-6/6A had become the most popular homebuilt design ever, there was still a significant percentage of pilots who really wanted centerline seating. The consensus seemed to be that a roomier tandem airplane with better cross-country capability would be popular.

A one-of-a-kind demonstrator was built and introduced at Oshkosh in 1995. The response left no doubt about the desire for an airplane like the RV-8. The ground around the display aircraft was beaten into a trench and Van’s personnel were fending off people waving handfuls of cash…but not for too long. The RV-8 went on the market in 1996 and complete kits were available by the end of 1998. In short order, it was followed by the kit for the tricycle gear RV-8A.

Download Brochure Order a Kit

Span	24 ft
Length	21 ft
Height	5 ft 7 in
Wing Area	116 sq ft
Empty Weight	1067 - 1120 lbs
Gross Weight	1800 lbs
Wing Loading	15.5 lb/sq ft
Power Loading	12 - 9 lb/hp
Engine	150 - 215 HP
Propeller	Fixed or Constant-Speed
Fuel Capacity	42 US gal
Baggage	125 lbs

Span	24 ft
Length	20 ft 10 in
Height	7 ft 4 in
Wing Area	116 sq ft
Empty Weight	1067 - 1120 lbs
Gross Weight	1800 lbs
Wing Loading	15.5 lb/sq ft
Power Loading	12 - 9 lb/hp
Engine	150 - 215 HP
Propeller	Fixed or Constant-Speed
Fuel Capacity	42 US gal
Baggage	125 lbs

RV-8/8A

Overview

Highlights

History

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