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FIrst FLights

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Bernie & Marti Hartnell’s RV-14A RV-14A #140102

Here is my first flight in my Van’s RV 14A! She flew straight and true without a hitch! Talk about a long awaited “RV Grin”! Thank you to all at Van’s who were always just a call away for some detail the I needed clarification. And the always careful and friendly help of customer service […] Read More

Rick Olson’s RV-4 RV-4

Hello All After three years and three months of hard work our RV4 N42321 has finally flown. I need to thank my family for all sacrifices of both time and money it takes to get an airplane built. My wife bucked countless rivets and made my heated seats. My Daughter and Mother designed the paint […] Read More

Mike Schulze’s RV-4 (14 years ago!) | Lee's Summit, MO RV-4

I’m just a little late notifying you of my first flight of my RV 4 14 years ago on 9-11-2004 but better late than never. The build took 9.5 years with the help of my two kids and my dad who unfortunately passed away before the first flight. Ryan Bendure (my wife’s cousin) took me […] Read More

Dan Littmann’s RV-7A RV-7A #74536

Happy to report the first flight of my RV-7A on December 15, 2018. It has a Lycoming YIO-360-M1B with Hartzell constant-speed prop from Van’s. Panel is equipped with a 10.6-inch Garmin G3X Touch, G5 backup display, GMC 307 autopilot control, GTR 200 comm, and GTX 335 transponder. I could not bear the thought of cutting […] Read More

Transmogrification of Mick Muller’s RV-9A RV-9A #90711

On December 22nd, 2018, at 7.30 a.m. EDST, the RV9A kit 90711 was transmogrified into a flying RV9A, registered VH-VDG. It was a bit bumpy in the circuit, but plane and pilot survived, and managed a more than passable landing. 15 years in the making, weighed in at 1130 lbs, Lycoming O-320 E3D 150 HP […] Read More

Tom Mabis’ RV-9A RV-9A #91512

Almost 12 years after I ordered the first kit, first flight of RV-9A, #91512 was made on 12/18/2018. It is powered by a Lycoming YIO-302-D1A with a fixed pitched prop. The dual Dynon Classic Skyview’s are powered by Vertical Power’s VP-X Pro. Thanks to Vans’s for a great kit to build, VAF website and forums […] Read More

Gary Kohler’s RV-7A | Dalton, Ohio RV-7A #73930

RV-7A N358MG flew for the first time on Nov. 17, 2018. Standard YIO-360-M1B and Hartzell constant speed from Van’s with Dynon Skyview and GTN-650. No major but several minor avionics discrepancies. Thanks to Vic Skodzinsky for fiberglass and other technical help, my nephew Brett Davis for otherwise impossible-to-reach bucking help, and my wife Sally for […] Read More

Mehrdad Mehranpour’s RV-14A RV-14A #140423

It has been eleven months of pure joy building and two months of anxiety for paint process but she finally got done and after three weeks of transport, final assembly and sign off, today was the first good weather day for the first flight. I want to take this time to thank first and foremost, […] Read More

Jody Stutts and Dannie Smith’s RV-6A RV-6A

From Jody: “My partner Dannie Smith started this project at age 50, he is now 70. He and I partnered up 6 years ago to finish this RV-6A. On August 21 2018 it flew for the first time. The RV-6A is powered by a 160 HP Lycoming, Prince P-tip prop and Dynon Skyview avionics.”

Baron Marshall’s RV-8 | Bend, OR RV-8 #82351

Hey folks, Just wanted to say that after 14 year 6 months and 22 days, as well as, 7 moves….I finally know the RV grin! N762BM (RV-8) “Russian Bare” took to the skies with ease. Her 200hp IO-360-A1A (shoehorned into a James Cowl) powered us through 180kts true @ 5000′. I can’t wait to see […] Read More

David Moore’s RV-14A | Bend, OR RV-14A #140470

Hello Van’s Aircraft, Yes, another RV-14A has been built and fly’s great! On October 20, 2018, number 140470 lifted off at Bend Municipal Airport just 3 months after the QB kit was delivered from the Van’s factory. Building an Rv to replace my prior certified airplanes has always been a project I dreamed about. Like […] Read More

Lonnie Autry Jr’s RV-8 RV-8 #83377

After a little over 5yrs I made the first flight on my RV8 , sn 83377, N280LG on November 5th 2018. Performance is great, and right out of the box it flys hands off. I built the airplane using the showplanes fastback and cowling, with grove landing gear. The engine is an IO-382 built by […] Read More

Joe Paff RV-7 #72252

Hello, I am happy to say that I had a great and very successful first flight in my rv-7 (N511PR) on 7 June 2018 at 7:45am. Everything worked as it should and all engine temps were good. Took her it up to 4000′ and did a clean stall and then one with full flaps. Both […] Read More

Christoph Schnyder RV-12 #120832

On Nov.24th, after a few weeks of waiting and praying for the weather to improve, my MagicCarpet has finally airborne. The first flight took about 35 min. and it was a very successful and flawlessly flight. The plane has a fantastic balanced handling behavior and yet is still agile. And the outside view is really […] Read More

Roger Nilson | Western Austrailia RV-8 #83012

RV-8 (Builder No 83012) left the ground on 21 November 2018, around 8 years after being delivered in 5 crates to my shed in Western Australia. It is a standard slow build project apart from the Showplanes Fastback modification. Power from a Lycoming IO-360 with Sensenich fixed pitch prop. Instruments via Dynon Skyview with a […] Read More

Laurie Macdonald’s RV-7A | Canada RV7A #73595

Tail number: C-GRVE (Canadian) First flight: July 21, 2018 Slider Lycoming O-320 B1A Hartzell C/S prop Empty weight 1096 lbs Dynon Skyview EFIS Electric flaps, manual trim Two axis autopilot She flies in eternal memory of George Kowalenko and with special thanks to the fantastic RVers based at Brampton, Ontario. It’s a thrill to join […] Read More

Paul Osborne | Elizabethtown, Ky RV8

It is my pleasure to report the first flight of our RV8 on 7 Nov 18 which we began 5 years, 3 months ago. It has a Grove gear, Todd’s canopy and upswept wing tips…seats by Classic Aero. She’s powered by a Lycoming IO 360 and a Hartzell variable pitch prop. Panel was built by […] Read More

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