Van's Aircraft RV-8

RV-8
Role RV-8
Manufacturer Van's Aircraft
Designer Richard VanGrunsven
First flight 1995[1]
Introduction 1995[1]
Number built 1272 (November 2014)[2]
Unit cost
USD$ 41,000–98,000
Developed from Van's Aircraft RV-4
RV-8A at the 2007 South West Regional Fly In, Hondo, TX
RV-8 on wheel skis in December 2011
RV-8 at Smiths Falls, Ontario.
RV-8 at an English rally in 2007.
RV-8 at AirVenture 2011
RV-8 landing
Vans RV-8 takeoff

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 a larger development of the RV-4, and is similar in appearance, although larger, than the earlier model.[3][4][5]

Development

Richard VanGrunsven designed the RV-8 series as an improved RV-4, itself a two-seat version of the single seat RV-3. The RV-8 first flew in 1995 and was first shown publicly at Oshkosh that year.[1]

The RV-8 incorporated changes as a result of lessons learned in producing the popular RV-4 design. The RV-8 airframe will accept larger engines, including the Lycoming IO-360, up to 200 hp. The RV-8 also has increased wingspan and wing area over the RV-4, as well as more cockpit width, headroom, legroom and an increased useful load, all with a view to accommodating larger pilots. Like the RV-3 to RV-7 that preceded it, the RV-8 is stressed for aerobatics.[1][5]

The RV-8 shares many common parts with the RV-7 and RV-9 which reduces production costs. Like the RV-7, the RV-8 uses computer assisted design to produce a kit with pre-drilled rivet holes, thus greatly reducing assembly time for the builder.

The RV-8 was intended from the start to have a nose-gear stablemate designated the RV-8A. The RV-8A was first flown in 1998 and features tubular steel landing gear with the nosewheel mounting tube welded to the engine mount. As in all nose-wheel equipped RV aircraft, the nosewheel is free castering and the aircraft is steered with differential braking. The brakes are mounted conventionally on the rudder pedal toes.

By November 2014, 1272 RV-8s and RV-8As were flying.[2]

Specifications (RV-8)

Data from Van's Aircraft[6][7]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Total Performance RV Kit Planes". Van's Aircraft. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  2. 1 2 "First Flights". Van’s Aircraft. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  3. Downey, Julia (December 2007), "Kitplanes", 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, 24 (12), Primedia, p. 77, ISSN 0891-1851.
  4. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Vol. 28, No. 12, December 2011, p. 74. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  5. 1 2 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, p. 125. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  6. "Van's Aircraft - RV-8 Specifications". Vansaircraft.com. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  7. "Van's Aircraft - RV-8 Performance". Vansaircraft.com. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
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