24 July 2012
Van’s, the world’s biggest kit-plane company has launched the RV-14. The aircraft uses the same slotted flaps and aerofoil section as the RV-10 and has a tip up canopy (no sliding option), with dimensions larger than other Van’s two-seaters. Suggested power comes from a 210hp Lycoming IO-390. At first glance it is not obvious which niche the RV-14 has been designed to fill, although the cockpit is three inches wider than the RV-7 and the MAUW is 250lb higher.
According to Van’s, the RV-14 will cruise at 193mph at its max gross weight of 2,050lb. Empty weight is listed as 1,240 pounds, stall speed is 56 mph, takeoff and landing distance are slightly more than 500 feet at lighter weights, max rate of climb is 1,800 fpm and range at 55 percent power is 958 nm.
The prototype on show at AirVenture is tricycle geared, but the company has confirmed that a taildragger version is under development. The first wing kit should be available in the autumn of 2012 at an estimated cost of $9,000, with other kit parts to follow. Van’s says the price for a completed RV-14 will fall somewhere between a two-seat RV-9 and four-seat RV-10.
You can watch a video from Van’s introducing the RV-14 at <a href=’http://vimeo.com/45875013′ target=’_blank’>vimeo.com/45875013</a>
<a href=”http://www.vansaircraft.com”>Click here for more</a>
