28 April 2011
The LAA has cleared the 250th UK Van’s aircraft for flight, an RV-8, G-RVIS. With 228 examples in current UK operation and a further 253 in build, the Vans range have become the most popular type on the LAA fleet, and the world’s most popular amateur-built marque with almost 7,300 worldwide completions.
An LAA spokesman explained, “The Van’s Aircraft range now represents around 10% of the in-Permit LAA fleet. Kits like this have helped transform the UK amateur-built scene with their capable and cost-effective designs. Building and operating your own LAA aircraft is a hugely satisfying pastime. With an ever-widening available range of aircraft power, performance and price within the fleet, there’s bound to be something to interest everyone.”
Talking about the build, G-RVIS owner, Ian Sharman, added, “The build process was long and frequently challenging but with the support of many interested friends and relatives, my rivetting skills reached the required standard and the whole project started to take shape. The most enjoyable aspect of the build for me was designing the instrument panel with ergonomics and maintenance a priority.
“The first engine start and flight were real highlights, followed by the test programme which went well. G-RVIS has now been granted a Permit to Fly, and with such a versatile aeroplane we intend to do some touring, formation flying and aerobatics.
“Would I do it again? Only if I found a kit which suited me better than the RV-8. At the moment, that’s a hard act to follow.”
Commenting on the success of the RVs, Ken Scott from Van’s commented, “Van’s is delighted to learn of the 250th RV cleared to fly in the UK. That’s a fair percentage of the 7400+ complete worldwide — and we’re happy to contribute our bit to Britain’s proud aviation heritage.
“We expect that RVs prosper in England for the same reasons they do in other countries all over the world: there’s a place in the UK for an affordable, efficient, fast, farm-strip-capable airplane that’s a blast to fly.”
Ken also added, “Like millions of others, we watched the Recent Event on the telly. We had hoped that Bill and Kate might fly off to their honeymoon in an RV-7, but alas, they chose Dad’s Aston Martin,”
<a href=”http://www.vansaircraft.com”>Click here for more</a>
