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FIrst FLights

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Glenn Martin’s RV-14 | Windsor, Ontario, Canada RV-14 #140694

Congrats to Glenn on the new RV-14! He writes: After 14 months of continuous build C-FLGW took to the air on June 22, 2021! Pretty much stock with a Thunderbolt 390 and a few other upgrades. Thanks to all who have helped especially my dear wife for her unlimited support with my flying activities, Peter, Perry, […] Read More

Bill Verduin’s RV-7 | Zeeland, Michigan RV-7 #73043

Congrats on the new RV-7 Bill! Built RV-4 number 1628 25 years ago and needed a project, so in 2008 I started and accidentally finished this month. Weight is 1039 but airplane is as light as it ever will be. Took off heat muff and plugged the hole in the baffling so that all the […] Read More

Steve Johnson’s RV-12iS | Dunedin, New Zealand RV-12iS #121143

Steve wrote in to let us know about the completion and first flight of his RV-12iS: NZ-TXW (RV-12iS) became an airplane today with a successful first flight over Dunedin, New Zealand. Everything remained in the green and the performance was impressive. No issues other than a mildly heavy right wing that goes away with deployment […] Read More

Michael Gregory’s RV-10 | Clayton, Delaware RV-10 #40889

Congratulations to Michael on the first flight of his RV-10! First flight went perfectly! It was a short pattern flight but the aircraft flew straight, smooth, and fast. I couldn’t be happier. You folks at Van’s have built an amazing aircraft but the community that has been formed around it is amazing.

Mike Carter’s RV-7 | Berkshire, England RV-7 #74405

Mike has completed and flown his new RV-7 for the first time: Six years after setting the first rivet G-CLAO took to the skies on cold damp February morning. She flew faultlessly with just a couple of minor tweaks to the G3X setting required on landing. Following a successful flight test program AO received her full […] Read More

Greg Young’s RV-6 | Spring, Texas RV-6 #24633

Congratulations to Greg on the new RV-6! He writes: Dubbed the Phoenix Project, this was a replacement for my first RV-6. I started this build from a partially completed kit picked up in June of 2002. I’ve split my time with flying and upgrading a Navion but have continued to chip away at the RV. […] Read More

Glenn Vokac’s RV-8 | Oswego, Illinois RV-8 #83182

Congrats to Glenn on the first flight of his RV-8! He wrote in to report: My RV-8, serial number #83182 had a successful first flight on May 14, 2021with only a few minor squawks. This is the second RV-8 I have built and flown. The engine is an IO-360-M1B with a Hartzell blended airfoil prop, […] Read More

Paul and Mary Beth Elsen’s RV-14A | Winnebago, Illinois RV-14A #140524

Congratulations to Paul and Mary Beth on their new RV-14A: We decided to start this retirement “adventure” at Oshkosh 2018. Did the Van’s build workshop together at Oshkosh. Ordered our RV-14A kit in August 2018. Decided to utilize the help of SynergyAir in Eugene Oregon. Started building our empennage in December 2018. Spent 24+ 40 […] Read More

Mark Rogers’ RV-14A | Foley, Alabama RV-14A #140731

Mark wrote in to let us know about the recent completion and first flight of his RV-14A: Nice airplane, significant climb rate, very nicely harmonized controls. Reminds me of my days in the T-37. Covid and a very engaged Spouse resulted in a relatively quick build. Replaces a LongEZ that we built 35 years ago.

James Hamilton’s RV-8 | Leesburg, Virgina RV-8 #83724

Congrats to James on the new RV-8, he writes: N420RV took to the skies over northern Virginia on Sunday, May 9, 2021 after 3 years of building. The plane flew wonderfully. Actually, the best plane I’ve ever flown (although I may be a bit biased). Totally worth all of the effort and frustration of the […] Read More

Doug Volkmer’s RV-7 | Lincoln, NE RV-7 #71616

Congrats to Doug on the first flight of his new RV-7! He wrote in to report: My RV-7 took to the skies on April 18th, 2021 at the experienced hands of Doug Roth. I built this plane with a ‘keep it simple’ approach. My instrument panel is rather sparse. I have an analog airspeed indicator […] Read More

Scott Stewart’s RV-14 | Arlington, WA RV-14 #140325

Congratulations to Scott on the first flight of his RV-14! He writes: It finally happened! After two years of building, and another six months of painting, my RV-14 finally flew this week! Four years ago, my wife was wandering around the Van’s display at Oshkosh and snuck over to the -14 demo plane. When she […] Read More

Jesse and Ken Norling’s RV-12 | Auburn, WA RV-12 #120577

Congrats to Jesse and Ken on their new RV-12. Here’s their story: Nearly 10 years ago, I bought the RV-12 empennage kit after looking at several different airplane options. This started the best father-son project you could imagine. I started the build, and as I got further along it became a weekly tradition for my […] Read More

Gary Thorne’s New RV-12 | Rotorua, New Zealand RV-12 #120172

Congratulations to Gary on his RV-12! He wrote to tell the tale: It was ready to fly in March 2020. Inspections were scheduled for late March. Then the country went into a 6 week lockdown courtesy of Covid 19! Finally got inspections done in May and flew on 6 June, a date I’ll remember as […] Read More

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