21 July 2025
Massive news on the first day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh! The first high wing aircraft from Van’s, the RV-15, has entered into production – much earlier than expected.
Van’s says it has begun manufacturing wing kits, which will be shipping and in the hands of builders this year.
The RV-15 will be the easiest Van’s kitplane ever to put together, said Van’s. The wing kits are made up of aluminium skins and structural components that are ‘pre punched’ to final size and assembled with easy-to-use, aerospace-quality blind rivets.
“The RV-15 is a game changer for the backcountry flying community and Van’s Aircraft,” said Mikael Via, Van’s Aircraft CEO.
“Our design engineers have worked tirelessly to create an airplane that takes Van’s idea of ‘Total Performance’ into the utility category.
“The RV-15 has the ideal mix of very low stall speeds and docile handling that backcountry pilots love with unexpectedly high cruise speeds. The RV-15 is capable of cruising at 140 knots while also feeling comfortable on short, challenging remote airstrips.”
The wing kit is being offered at an introductory price of $19,650. Timelines have been set as follows:
Prices for the remaining kits are estimated at $9,000 for the tail kit, $20,000 for the fuselage kit, $13,000 for the firewall-forward kit, and $23,000 for the finish kit.
Novel flap design on the RV-15
Patented tailwheel design
Van’s says the RV-15 uses new technologies and design concepts for the back country market. The flaps, for instance, design, have integrated vortex generators hidden during cruise for drag reduction. These combine very high lift values with a high-drag configuration to permit short, steep approaches to challenging airstrips.
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