Van's Aircraft RV-12

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This article contains information about a scheduled or expected future product.
It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the product.

The Van's RV-12 is two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplane eligible for the US LSA category that will be sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft.

The RV-12 is currently under development and had its first flight on November 9, 2006. Kit deliveries are anticipated in late 2007.

1 Development
2 Aircraft Type Club
3 Specifications (RV-12)
4 Related content

[edit] Development

The architect of the line of Van’s aircraft, Richard VanGrunsven, designed the RV-12 with several specific goals in mind. These include:

Flying qualities equal to or better than the standard set by the RV-9A
550 lb. payload – to carry a projected load of a 190 pound pilot and passenger, 120 pounds of fuel (20 US Gallons) and 50 pounds of baggage or cargo.
750 lb aircraft empty weight
Cabin width of 43 inches
A low parts count, with an aim of reducing kit cost and construction time
Minimal use of composites and maximum use of aluminum
Maximum use of simple hand tools only for construction

The LSA class limits aircraft to a maximum takeoff weight of 1,320 lb (599 kg), a maximum clean, stall speed with no flaps of 51 mph (45 knots) and a maximum level speed of 138 mph (120 knots). The production RV-12 is projected to meet those maximum limits.

The prototype incorporates several new features for an RV-series aircraft including: removable wings, full-span flaperons and an all-moving stabilator. It is intended that the RV-12 will be powered by a Rotax 912S engine of 100 hp and equipped with a Sensenich composite ground-adjustable propeller.

Van’s Aircraft is intending to produce the RV-12 as a 51% kit, the same as all other aircraft in the RV-series. The US LSA rules allow kits where the builder does less than the majority of the work and a kit with this feature may be made available in the longer term. There are no plans to produce a completed factory-built aircraft, possibly due to liability concerns.

The cost of the RV-12 kit is projected to be in-line with the cost of other RV-series aircraft. This indicates that the quick-build version of the kit will cost about USD$25,000 and the total cost to construct a simply-equipped completed aircraft will be about USD$55,000.

[edit] Aircraft Type Club

Once aircraft are constructed and flying the RV-12 owners will be supported by a very active aircraft type club Van's Air Force.

[edit] Specifications (RV-12)

Specifications are given for 100 hp, Rotax 912S configuration with a ground-adjustable propeller

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Capacity: one passenger
Length: 19 ft 11 in (6.12 m)
Wingspan: 26 ft 8 in (8.21 m)
Height: ()
Wing area: 120 ft² (11.1 m²)
Empty weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
Loaded weight: 1,320 lb (600 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,320 lb (600 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Rotax 912S with a Sensenich composite ground-adjustable propeller, 100 hp (74 kW)

Performance

Never exceed speed: mph (km/h)
Maximum speed: 138 mph at sea level (223 km/h)
Range: 520 statute miles at cruise 75% power at 8,000 ft (842 km at cruise 75% power at 2,500 m)
Wing loading: 11.0 lb/ft² (55 kg/m²)