Van's Aircraft RV-3

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RV-3
Type RV-3
Manufacturer Van's Aircraft
Designed by Richard VanGrunsven
Status RV-3: Production completed
RV-3B: In production
Number built 255[1]
Unit cost USD$35,000-$63,000
Developed from Stits Playboy
Van's Aircraft RV-3, showing the design's low frontal area
Van's Aircraft RV-3, showing the design's low frontal area
Van's Aircraft RV-3 Instrument Panel
Van's Aircraft RV-3 Instrument Panel

The Van's RV-3 is a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplane kit airplane 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 of 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.

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[edit] Development

The architect of the line of Van’s aircraft, Richard VanGrunsven, designed the RV-3 in the late 1960s after experience flying the Stits Playboy amateur-built aircraft. The RV-3 started out as an attempt to maintain the Playboy’s layout and concept but to improve it in every regard. The RV-3 was designed to have light handling, aerobatic capabilities, fast cruise speeds and short field STOL capabilities. The RV-3 was also designed from the start for serious travel and as such carries 30 US gallons of fuel giving it a range of about 600 statute miles. The design horsepower is 100-150 typically using a Lycoming O-235 or Lycoming O-320 powerplant, although some builders have fitted RV-3s with more powerful engines.

The RV-3 uses a NACA 23015 airfoil on a constant chord wing. Construction is semi-monocoque of predominantly 2024-T3 aluminum sheet. The wings are built around an aluminum “I” beam spar with a lighter rear spar. The aircraft has simple flaps operated by a handle. The main landing gear is attached directly to the welded steel engine mount and consists of tapered, sprung steel tubes. Construction time for the RV-3 is reported to be 1300 hours for a first time builder.

The very first RV-3 built by VanGrunsven won “Best Aerodynamic Detailing” at the 1972 EAA Convention in Oshkosh in 1972.

Due to structural concerns the production of RV-3 kits was suspended in 1996. Continued customer demand for the single seat design resulted in VanGrunsven engineering a new wing for the RV-3. Production of kits was re-started a few years later. New aircraft completed since the wing redesign and aircraft that have been retrofitted with the new wing are referred to as an RV-3B. There is no RV-3A as in VanGrunsven’s designation system “A” models refer to nosewheel equipped versions.

By March 2008 255 RV-3s had been completed and were flying.[1]

[edit] Aircraft Type Club

The RV-3 and the rest of the RV series share a very active aircraft type club Van's Air Force that provides support for owners and pilots of all these aircraft.

[edit] Specifications (RV-3)

Performance for an RV-3 equipped with a Lycoming O-320 150 BHP and fixed pitch wooden propeller General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: no passengers
  • Length: 19 ft 0 in (5.85 m)
  • Wingspan: 19 ft 11in (6.12 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 0 in (1.54 m)
  • Wing area: 90 ft² (8.35 m²)
  • Empty weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 1,100 lb (498 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,100lb (498kg)
  • Powerplant:Lycoming O-235 or Lycoming O-320 fixed pitch, 100-150hp (75-111 kW)

Performance


[edit] Related content

[edit] Related development

[edit] Similar aircraft

  • Stits Playboy


[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Vans Aircraft (March 2008). First Flights. Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
  • Van's Aircraft Website
  • Armstrong, Kenneth, Choosing Your Homebuilt – The One You’ll Finish And Fly, Butterfield Press, Templeton CA 1993.
  • Bowers, Peter M, Guide to Homebuilts 9th Edition, TAB Books Blue Ridge Summit PA, 1984.
  • Plane and Pilot, 1978 Aircraft Directory, Werner and Werner, Santa Monica CA 1978