VanGrunsven RV-11

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RV-11 side view VanGrunsven RV-11 motorglider, side view.jpg
RV-11 side view
RV-11 being assembled Pictures of VanGrunsven RV-11 motorglider being assembled.png
RV-11 being assembled

RV-11 is Richard VanGrunsven's designation for a proposed single-seat touring motor glider design similar in layout to the AMS Carat. [1] Most touring motor gliders are two-seaters; VanGrunsven felt that the lower drag and weight of a single-seater would allow for superior performance. [2]

Although the designation is the 11th in the Van's Aircraft “RV” series, the RV-11 is not a company project. Rather, it is Richard VanGrunsven’s “personal pet project”, being designed and built at his home in his spare time. [3]

The prototype RV-11 uses the wings of an HP-18 sailplane mated to a specially built fuselage. [4] A Jabiru 2200 was installed in the nose. [5] The panel features an I-K Technologies AIM-1 display and a MicroAir radio. [6] The canopy is the aft half of an RV-4 canopy, rotated 180 degrees so as to face forward. [7] Construction is all-metal, except for the PVC ribs in the HP-18 wings and - as is typical in RVs - some small fiberglass components such as the engine cowl and prop spinner. [2]

The RV-11’s single main landing gear is similar to those of a DC-3, [7] retracting up and forward, “half way” into a pod-like fairing on the underside of the belly. [5]

VanGrunsven first announced the RV-11 in an issue of the RVator newsletter published in 2000. [2] In a 2002 issue, VanGrunsven reported that the prototype was “perhaps 80% complete”. [5] Later issues included photos of the build. [7] [6] In 2022, at an EAA event to celebrate the 50 years of Van's Aircraft, VanGrunsven showed recent photos and reported that, although the airplane has not yet been completed, further progress has been made. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft</span> Kit aircraft manufacturer

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.

<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">Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4</span> German single- or two-seat glider, 1990

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<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-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">AMS-Flight Carat</span> Motorglider

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scheibe Bergfalke</span> German two-seat glider, 1951

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">VanGrunsven RV-1</span> Type of aircraft

The RV-1 is a Stits Playboy that was constructed with modifications by Richard VanGrunsven. The aircraft was the first of a series of Van's aircraft that became the most popular homebuilt aircraft produced.

<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.

The Aerola Alatus is a Ukrainian mid-wing, single-seat, glider and motor glider, designed and produced by Aerola of Kyiv.

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

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VanGrunsven RV-2</span>

RV-2 is Richard VanGrunsven’s designation for a proposed single-seat tailless glider with all-wood structure and a 40-foot wingspan. The airplane has same configuration as the Backstrom EPB-1C and Marske XM-1D, although with a swept vertical stabilizer similar to that of the Marske Pioneer.

References

  1. Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2000 issue #2. Archived
  2. 1 2 3 Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2000 issue #1. Archived
  3. Flying Magazine, "Van’s Aircraft and Those Amazing RVs"
  4. 1 2 Experimental Aircraft Association, "AirVenture 2022 - Theater in the Woods - Van's 50th Anniversary"
  5. 1 2 3 Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2002 issue #4. Archived
  6. 1 2 Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2004 issue #2. Archived
  7. 1 2 3 Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2002 issue #6. Archived