| RV-1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Designer | Richard VanGrunsven |
| Introduction | October 1965 |
| Developed from | Stits Playboy |
The RV-1 is a Stits Playboy that was constructed with modifications by Richard VanGrunsven. [1] The aircraft was the first of a series of Van's aircraft that became the most popular homebuilt aircraft produced.
The first RV-1 was a Stits SA-3A completed on 3 October 1965. The Playboy is a single-place, strut-braced, low-wing aircraft with conventional landing gear. The aircraft engine was upgraded from the normally-fitted 65 hp (48 kW) powerplant to a 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-290G. The resulting aircraft had good performance, but a high landing speed. [2] On 16 August 1965, the aircraft was registered as an RV-1. Modifications included a new aluminum wing with flaps, Horner wing tips, and a bubble canopy. The fuselage uses welded steel tube construction in contrast to the RV series that followed which uses all-aluminum fuselage construction. The flaps reduced the stall speed to 50 mph (80 km/h). A second series of modifications included a streamlined cowling, wheel pants and modified horizontal tail surfaces. [3]
The organization Friends of the RV-1 was formed to restore the prototype RV-1. It was flown across the United States and Canada in 2012 to various airshows and events. On 23 July 2012, the prototype RV-1 will be showcased at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, prior to donation to the EAA AirVenture Museum. [4]
The Spirit of Flight Center air museum located in Erie, Colorado has an RV-1 which is airworthy. The Spirit of Flight RV-1 is displayed at the museum and at airshows and events.[ citation needed ]
Data from Sport Aviation
General characteristics
Performance
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