Aircraft 

Kit Planes - The Best

Van's Aircraft is a popular aircraft kit manufacturer started up by Mr. Richard VanGrunsven in 1973. Kit planes that you build yourself have very high accident rates but despite that, appeal to those who love airplanes that fly a bit differently than traditional, often slower and less agile aircraft. Your life insurance company may raise your yearly premiums after they learn you own one of these but if you're looking for fun, then you're in the right space.

The RV series has been one of the most popular of these homebuilt kit plane designs evidenced by the thousands that are flying and currently in service. If you're interested in aerobatic flying, then Van's RV series of aircraft may be just what you're looking for. Highly responsive controls, good speed and great fuel economy make the RV series attractive to kit flyers. All are built of aluminum, all are low-wing monoplanes and all are of monocoque construction using the plane's external load-bearing skin instead of an internal frame or truss covered with a non-load-bearing skin.

Most of Van's RV planes come in both tricycle and taildragger styles. The RV-3, 4 and 10 do not come in this configuration. In fact, the RV-9 and 10 are not really designed for aerobatics but the others in the RV series may be something you should look into if aerobatics is your primary interest.

Van's factory can be found at Aurora State Airport in Oregon which has become the location of a fly-in for Van's aircraft owners annually.

RV kit aircraft often use air-cooled Lycoming carburated or fuel-injected aircraft engines with the most popular being the 4-cylinder 160 hp and 180-200 hp engines. The larger RV-10 model requires a 6-cylinder fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540 or the carburated O-540 engine running at 235-260 hp. The more maverick kit builders often opt to use adapted Subaru or Mazda rotary car engines instead of the Lycomings. Kit builders can also choose either a fixed pitch and constant speed propeller. 

Those who own RV aircraft from Van's feel pride in their Van kits and  at purchase are offered membership in Van's Air Force - a club where owners can get together and swap advice and stories.  Kit aircraft are fun for the flyboys who have a bit of engineer in them. Being a good pilot helps too.

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