We learn of flying RVs in several different ways, and we can only add your RV to our counter if you let us know it’s flown! Ideally, a builder will use the form linked from this page to send us the story and a photo/video or two or three of his or her personal “RV grin.” Sometimes they call us on the phone, which is great but doesn’t actually provide us with anything to publish on the web. Other times we find out incidentally; for example when a customer calls to order new tires and we wonder why someone who is still building (as far as we know) would need them. Or, we may discover a first flight announcement on an RV web forum or other online venue. On yet other occasions, we learn of a new batch of flying RVs from “RV factories” overseas, but without the individual owner details.
We’d like to see more RV grins here, so please submit your first-flight story and pictures of your new “baby,” or we (and the rest of the world) may never know of your success! Click the “Submit Report” link on the right to do it!
Congrats to Dan on his new RV-8A! He writes: To get here it took 4 years (almost exactly), 3300 hours of work, 15000 rivets, and almost my sanity, but N8824 took to the skies this morning, 11/19/2024, at 11:02am, from KSDC, and flew beautifully! I can’t understate how fast and smooth this thing flies. It’s […] Read More
Nice work Michael! He writes: During my university time we were designing and building an aircraft at the Akaflieg Stuttgart, the fs35. When i finished I decided to proceed this dedication for aviation and started an RV-7 empennage. But then I was able to purchase a second hand QB-Kit RV-9 and built in in the […] Read More
On Saturday 11/16/24 N567P took to the sky for the very first time! I started the build Thanksgiving week of 2019. My kit was a mixed bag of slow build wings, a quick build fuse, and an engine I yanked out of an old Pitts S1 and overhauled. One thing that a person learns is […] Read More
Congratulations to Estevan! He writes: The first flight on my homemade airplane was a thrilling blend of tension, excitement, and a deep sense of accomplishment. After years of learning and building, everything was finally in place. The engine fired up smoothly. As the plane rolled down the runway, I felt surprisingly confident. The takeoff was […] Read More
Congratulations Andrea! He writes: I became the owner of the RV-7 s/n 72206 on August 25, 2021 and on September 19, 2021 it was destroyed by a tornado while it was parked in the hangar at Carpi airport (Italy, ICAO code LIDU). In May 2022 my insurance paid me the damage, in July 2022 I […] Read More
Christopher’s RV-9 has flown for the first time! He writes: After briefing the tower for my first flight profile, I climbed aboard with a nervous, excited mindset. On takeoff clearance, the 2500 hours of work diminished into a single moment. What an incredible machine, looking forward to continuing the test flying phase, then the world’s […] Read More
Congrats to Shawn on completing his second RV! He writes: This is the second RV I have built, the first was an RV-7 that took me 3 years and 3 months to build with the first flight on 5/27/2014. The RV-10 journey took much longer due to job changes (and having a flying RV-7). After […] Read More
First flight lasted 35 minutes. Rock solid airplane. Loves to go fast. Joy to fly.
Congratulations to Matias on his new RV-7! He writes: The first flight lasted 15 minutes, it was the most focused and incredible moment of my life. Only after the flight did I realize that I had flown in an airplane that I had built myself. I love the RV-7.
Congrats to Jim! He writes: The first flight went well. The airplane flies straight and handles well.
Congratulations to Buck on his new RV-8, he writes: Construction of my dream RV-8 began way in 2002 (!) and progress stopped and started numerous times due to life getting in the way, having multiple jobs, house moves, and all sorts of other distractions — including my own desire to customize almost everything on the […] Read More
Congratulations to Kenneth on his new RV-10! He writes: I started the build in December 2018 as I retired from the electrical contracting industry and spent ever day over the last 4+ years working on the build. A heartfelt Thanks to my good friend Stuart who has been with me throughout the build. I went for […] Read More
Congratulations Ben! He writes: I started the slow build project in October 2018 and I’m pleased to say it flew in July 2023! It’s had a year in a bit of limbo, flying in primer and the addition of a few modifications but now it’s painted I can say it’s finally finished! I’ve enjoyed fixing […] Read More
Congratulations to Nathan on his new RV-12iS! He writes: After 4 years and 1 month of building our RV-12iS flew for the first time. Except for needing to adjust the rudder tab, it flew straight and true. Thanks Van for the great airplane. It has been a great retirement project.
Congrats to Rod on his RV-6! It took me 35 years to get this thing flying. I would just lose interest for sometimes years at a time, but I always got back to it. I am so appreciative of Van’s that they were always there during that time for parts and help.
Congratulations to the Ellersdorfer family on their new RV-10! Christian writes: On August 10, 2023, after more than five years of building, our RV-10 took off for the first time in LOKW (Austria). It was an overwhelming feeling to finally be able to fly the first RV-10 in Austria after so many hours in the […] Read More
Congratulations to Adrien on the completion of his new RV-7! He writes: Building the RV-7 was an amazing experience. The planning, the days spent in the hangar with my friend Xavier (also a builder), the questions, and solving (small) issues – I miss all of that today! On March 20th, after 4 years of building, […] Read More
Congrats to Kevern on the first flight of his RV-10! Today I test flew one of three RV’s ordered. We ordered full kits of the following aircraft a RV-7,RV-8 and a RV-10. The RV-7 is in final finishing stage the RV-8 is at finishing stage and the RV-10 flew today. The RV never disappoints, this […] Read More
Congratulations to Kevin on the first flight of his RV-7! He writes: N575KD is based at KHUF in Terre Haute, IN. The airport was very accommodating with the first few flight circling above class D airspace. First five flights were conducted by Elliot Abel and he completed many of the EAA task based cards for […] Read More
Congrats Dave! Rolled down the runway, and it tracked well. Felt the stick get “light”, and then I was off. It wasn’t until I was at 1100 ft, that I said to myself, well it flies and the enormity of it started to sink in. Followed Mike Busch’s recommendations on how to properly break in […] Read More
