Van's Aircraft RV-7

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An RV-7 on display at Sun n Fun 2004. This is the tail wheel equipped version

An RV-7A – the nose wheel equipped version of the RV-7 at Sun n Fun 2006

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. The RV-7 is a development of the RV-6 and is externally similar to the earlier model.

1 Development
2 Aircraft Type Club
3 Specifications (RV-7)
4 Related content

[edit] Development

The designer of the Van’s aircraft line, Richard VanGrunsven, designed the RV-7 series as a replacement for the RV-6. The RV-6 itself was a two seat side-by-side development of the RV-4, which was, in turn, a two seat version of the single seat RV-3.

The RV-7 incorporated many changes as a result of lessons learned over the years in producing over 2,000 RV-6 kits. The RV-7 airframe will accept larger engines, including the Lycoming IO-360, up to 200 hp. The RV-7 also has increased wingspan and wing area over the RV-6, as well as more headroom, legroom and an increased useful load. The RV-7 carries a total of 42 US gallons of fuel, up from 38 US gallons on the RV-6.

The RV-7 shares many common parts with the RV-8 and RV-9 which reduces production costs. The RV-7 also uses computer assisted design to produce a kit with pre-drilled rivet holes, thus greatly reducing assembly time for the builder. Construction time is estimated at about 1400 hours for an average builder.

The RV-7A version 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.

[edit] Aircraft Type Club

The RV-7 and RV-7A have a very active aircraft type club Van's Air Force that provides support for owners and pilots of these types.

[edit] Specifications (RV-7)

Specifications are given for 200HP, IO-360 configuration with a Hartzell constant speed propeller

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Capacity: one passenger
Length: 20 ft 4 in (6.26 m)
Wingspan: 25 ft (7.70 m)
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.79 m)
Wing area: 121 ft² (11.2 m²)
Empty weight: 1,114 lb (504 kg)
Loaded weight: 1,800 lb (815 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,800l b (815 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Lycoming IO-360 4 cylinder flat opposed piston engine, 200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 230 mph (368 km/h)
Maximum speed: 217 mph at sea level (351 km/h)
Range: 765 statute miles at cruise 75% power at 8,000 ft (1,239 km at cruise 75% power at 2,500 m)
Service ceiling: 22,500 ft (6,900 m)
Rate of climb: 1,900 ft/min (9.7 m/s)
Wing loading: 14.9 lb/ft² (75 kg/m²)