Van's Aircraft

Last updated

Van's Aircraft, Inc.
Industry Aerospace
Founded1973
Founder Richard VanGrunsven
Headquarters Aurora State Airport, Oregon 045°14′32″N122°45′57″W / 45.24222°N 122.76583°W / 45.24222; -122.76583 ,
Aurora, Oregon
,
United States
Products Kit aircraft
Revenue$52.6 million (2022)
-$3.3 million (2022)
Number of employees
110 (2023) [1]
Website www.vansaircraft.com

Van's Aircraft, Inc. is an American kit aircraft manufacturer founded by Richard VanGrunsven in 1973. The Van's RV series aircraft are all-aluminum, low-wing monoplanes of monocoque construction. In 2023, over 11,000 Van's aircraft were flying worldwide, one third of the USA's experimental aircraft fleet. [1]

Contents

The Van's Aircraft factory is located at Aurora State Airport, Oregon. [2] The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2023. [3]

History

The company was founded by Richard "Dick" VanGrunsven in 1973.

In 2013, the company announced it would begin selling assembled RV-12 model aircraft as well on a limited basis. [4]

In December 2017, the company reported that its 10,000th aircraft had flown, an RV-7 built in Martinsburg, West Virginia. [5]

As of November 2019, about 10,600 RV kits had been completed and flown, and thousands more are under construction. Completion rates currently average about 1.5 per day, [6] making the series the most numerous of all homebuilt aircraft. [7] [8] [2]

After announcing financial difficulties in October 2023, on December 4 2023 Van's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Factors leading to the reorganization included corrosion issues (a "multi million" dollar problem), laser-cutting instead of punched parts (affecting 1800 kits), and kit pricing under the cost of production and shipping. [3] [9]

Regulatory status

Previous company logo, used 1973-2018 VansAircraftLogo.png
Previous company logo, used 1973-2018

RVs are deemed Experimental Amateur Built (EAB) aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States and are accepted under the corresponding category by the aviation authorities in many other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. A modified version of the RV-6 was sold to the Nigerian government as a kit-assembled military trainer.

The RV-12iS is available as an experimental light sport aircraft (ELSA) or special light-sport aircraft (SLSA), which allows for commercial use for purposes like rental and flight training.

RV aircraft series

Formation flight of 40 Van's Aircraft RVFormation.jpg
Formation flight of 40 Van's Aircraft

Four of the designations missing from this sequence — RV-1, RV-2, RV-5, and RV-11 — apply to projects by Richard VanGrunsven that were never produced or marketed by Van's Aircraft (or even completed in the case of the RV-2 and RV-11). [24] The RV-13 designation was not used at all. [25]

Timeline

Van's Aircraft

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homebuilt aircraft</span> Aircraft constructed by amateurs

Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch", from plans, or from assembly kits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-4</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-4 is an American light homebuilt aircraft supplied in kit form by Van's Aircraft of Aurora, Oregon. It seats two people in a tandem seating configuration with the pilot accommodated in the front seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-10</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's Aircraft RV-10 is a four-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplane sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. It is the first four-seat airplane in the popular RV series. The RV-10 first flew on 29 May 2003, and the first kit parts were delivered to a customer in September 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-6</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-6 and RV-6A are two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplanes sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. The RV-6 is the tail-wheel equipped version while the RV-6A features a nose-wheel. The RV-6 was the first aircraft in the popular Van's RV series to feature side-by-side seating and the first to offer a nosewheel option. It was first flown in 1985. Over 2700 kits have been completed and flown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-7</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-7 and RV-7A are two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplanes sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. The RV-7 is the tail-wheel equipped version, while the RV-7A features a nose-wheel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-8</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-8 is a tandem two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt aircraft sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. The RV-8 is equipped with conventional landing gear, while the RV-8A version features tricycle landing gear. The design is similar to the earlier RV-4, although it is larger than that earlier model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-9</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-9 and RV-9A are American two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplanes sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft of Aurora, Oregon. The RV-9 is the tail-wheel equipped version while the RV-9A features a nose-wheel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-3</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-3 is a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing kit aircraft sold by Van's Aircraft. Unlike many other aircraft in the RV line, the RV-3 is only available as a tail-wheel equipped aircraft, although it is possible that some may have been completed by builders as nose-wheel versions. The RV-3 is the genesis design for the rest of the RV series, all which strongly resemble the RV-3. The RV-4 was originally developed as a two-seat RV-3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-12</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-12 is an American two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplane eligible for the U.S. E-LSA category, sold in kit form and as a complete ready-to-fly aircraft by Van's Aircraft of Aurora, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VanGrunsven RV-11</span>

RV-11 is Richard VanGrunsven's designation for a proposed single-seat touring motor glider design similar in layout to the AMS Carat. Most touring motor gliders are two-seaters; VanGrunsven felt that the lower drag and weight of a single-seater would allow for superior performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stits Playboy</span> Type of aircraft

The Stits SA-3A Playboy is a single seat, strut-braced low-wing monoplane that was designed by Ray Stits for amateur construction. The aircraft was designed and the prototype was completed in a three-month period during 1952. The design went on to become one of the most influential in the post-war boom in aircraft homebuilding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rans S-19 Venterra</span> American light airplane

The Rans S-19 Venterra is an American single-engined, tractor configuration, two-seats in side-by-side configuration, low-wing monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter as a light-sport aircraft and manufactured by Rans Inc. The Venterra is available as a complete factory-built aircraft and in kit form for amateur construction.

The RagWing RW19 Stork is a family of two-seat, high wing, strut-braced, conventional landing gear, single-engine homebuilt aircraft designed by Roger Mann and sold as plans by RagWing Aircraft Designs for amateur construction.

The Rocky Mountain Wings Ridge Runner is a family of American high wing, strut-braced, single engine, conventional landing gear aircraft that were designed by Stace Schrader and were produced by Rocky Mountain Wings of Nampa, Idaho for amateur construction from 2000 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-Squared Breese</span> Type of aircraft

The M-Squared Breese is a large family of high-wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration, tricycle gear, ultralight aircraft produced by M-Squared Aircraft of St. Elmo, Alabama in kit form, for amateur construction.

Richard E. "Dick" VanGrunsven is an American aircraft designer and kit plane manufacturer. The number of VanGrunsven-designed homebuilt aircraft produced each year in North America exceeds the production of all commercial general aviation companies combined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft Kit Industry Association</span> American aviation association

The Aircraft Kit Industry Association (AKIA) was an American aviation advocacy association that was formed in July 2012 and formally constituted at AirVenture 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-14</span> American homebuilt airplane

The Van's Aircraft RV-14 is an American aerobatic kit aircraft designed by Richard VanGrunsven and produced by Van's Aircraft. It was introduced at AirVenture in July 2012. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft Technologies Atlantis</span> Type of aircraft

The Aircraft Technologies Atlantis is an American aerobatic homebuilt aircraft, built by Aircraft Technologies of Lilburn, Georgia. The aircraft is supplied as a kit or in the form of plans for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VanGrunsven RV-5</span> 1970s prototype airplane

RV-5 is a one-off proof-of-concept prototype airplane designed by Richard VanGrunsven. Although the designation is the 5th in the Van's Aircraft "RV" series, the RV-5 was never intended as a production aircraft but as a project for VanGrunsven and fellow members of his Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) chapter.

References

  1. 1 2 "DECLARATION OF CLYDE A. HAMSTREET OF HAMSTREET & ASSOCIATES LLC IN SUPPORT OF DEBTOR'S FIRST DAY PLEADINGS" (PDF). s28490.pcdn.co. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Van's Aircraft (2007). "Introduction - About RV Kitplanes". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  3. 1 2 "Van's Aircraft Announces Chapter 11 Reorganization". Van's Aircraft Total Performance RV Kit Planes. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  4. ↑ Goldfield, Robert (April 16, 2013). "For plane kit maker, assembly no longer required". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  5. ↑ Grady, Mary (December 5, 2017). "Van's Kits Produce 10,000 Airplanes". AVweb. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Van's Aircraft - History". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  7. ↑ Kitplanes Staff: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, page 77-78, Kitplanes Magazine December 2007 Volume 24, Number 12, Belvior Publications, Aviation Publishing Group LLC.
  8. ↑ Vans Aircraft (August 2010). "First Flights". Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  9. ↑ Cook, Marc (December 6, 2023). "Van's Bankruptcy: How Did They Get Here? - KITPLANES". KITPLANES. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Van's Aircraft (2008). "Introduction - About RV Kitplanes". Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  11. ↑ "RV-3". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  12. ↑ "RV-4". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ "RV-6/6A". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  14. ↑ "RV-7/7A". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  15. ↑ "RV-8/8A". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  16. ↑ "RV-9/9A". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  17. ↑ "RV-10". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  18. ↑ AvWeb Staff (April 2000). "Vans RV-12 Light Sport Aircraft" . Retrieved April 11, 2008.
  19. ↑ "RV-12iS". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  20. ↑ Grady, Mary (July 24, 2012). "Van's Introduces RV-14, Up-sized Two-Place" . Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  21. ↑ "RV-14/14A". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  22. ↑ AvWeb Staff (July 26, 2021). "Van's Aircraft teases next design" . Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  23. ↑ "RV-15". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  24. ↑ Experimental Aircraft Association video, 2022: ""AirVenture, Theater in the Woods - Van's 50th Anniversary" eaa.org
  25. ↑ "Van's Aircraft and Those Amazing RVs". flyingmag.com. October 3, 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
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