Plane Facts: Van’s RVs

Person behind RV phenomenon: Richard VanGrunsven

Nicknames: "Van," "Dick"

Profession: engineer

Aeronautical ratings: ATP

Total time: more than 12,000 hours

Origin of first RV (RV-1): modification of Stits Playboy

RV-2: wooden flying wing glider (never flew)

RV-3: single-seat all-metal, low wing sport plane

Serial kit production, RV-3: 1971

First "factory:" small shop behind founder's home

Location: Reedville, Oregon (where VanGrunsven still resides)

Current factory: 60,000-sq. ft. facility in Aurora, Oregon

Distance between the two: 33 miles

Time to travel between by car: 36 minutes

Van's commuting method: "whatever RV strikes his fancy"

Number of Basic Designs Produced: 9, the RVs 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14

How many available only in a nose gear version: two, the RV-10 four-seater and RV-12 LSA

Main option with most RVs: taildragger or tricycle gear

Meaning of "A" version: Nosegear

Exception: RV-3A---wing modified model

Why no RV-5? There is one. Single-seat two-stroke powered. Never produced.

The RV-11? Motor glider said to be under development.

RV-13? Nobody builds a model 13. Come on.

Number of completed RV kits: more than 10,000

Included in most RV kits: all formed aluminum, powder-coated steel parts, molded canopy and fiberglass fairings

Hours to complete RV-14 (according to Van's): 1,100-1,200

Hours to complete four seater RV-10: approximately 2,000

Huge change w/ intro. of RV-7: all holes pre-punched

Recent kits: rivet holes aligned---one way to assemble them

Quickest build time ever: RV-12, one week to first flight, AirVenture 2018

Quickest build customer kit: 85 days (RV-6, no pre-punching!)

Longest build time (according to Van's): several RV-3 builders still working on theirs 30+ years later

Year of RV-3 discontinuance: 1996

Reason: structural concerns

Reintroduction: 1999

Improvements: new wing design with new spar; kits upgraded, too