Sat, Nov 11, 2006
Prototype Kit LSA Entry Makes First Hop
Van's Aircraft flew its RV-12 prototype for the first
time Thursday, November 9, with Dick "Van"
VanGrunsven at the controls.
The RV-12 is the newest design in Van's line of kit planes
marketed to the experimental crowd. It's intended to meet FAA
requirements for Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).
All of the Van's designs have earned a reputation among builders
and pilots alike for their simplicity, ruggedness and efficiency,
and because they're just plane (sp) fun.
The company added some new design features to the RV-12
prototype such as removable wings, full-span flaperons and a
fully-moving stabilator. All or none of these might make it to the
production kit depending on how each performs during flight
testing.
Van's advertised performance goals for the RV-12 include:
- Flying qualities equal to or better than the RV-9A
- A 550 lb payload
- 750 lb empty weight
Design goals to help builders include:
- A low parts count, to reduce kit costs and assembly time
- Systems installation at the lowest possible level of structural
subassembly
- Minimal use of composites
- Maximum use of simple hand tools
Tentative data on the company's website lists the RV-12 as
having a wing span just over 26 feet, total lenth of just
under 20 feet, 20-gallons of fuel capacity, a Rotax 912S 100
hp engine and a ground-adjustable Sensenich propeller.
Van took off and flew the RV-12 over the Aurora, OR
airport Thursday morning sampling its takeoff, landing and
slow flight characteristics. A short blurb on the company website
wouldn't go into details about how the prototype flew, but it did
say Van was grinning when he popped the canopy after landing!
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]