Van's Aircraft RV-3

The Van's RV-3 is a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing kit aircraft sold by Van's Aircraft.[2] 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 for 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.

RV-3
Role Kit aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Van's Aircraft
Designer Richard VanGrunsven
Introduction 1971
Status RV-3: Production completed
RV-3B: In production
Number built 305 (February 2023)[1]
Developed from Stits Playboy
RV-3
Van's Aircraft RV-3, showing the design's low frontal area

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. Some builders have fitted RV-3s with more powerful engines, however.[3][4][5][6][7]

The RV-3 uses a NACA 23012 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 plain flaps operated by a handle. The main landing gear is attached directly to the welded steel engine mount and consists of tapered, sprung steel rods. Construction time for the RV-3 is reported to be 1300 hours for a first time builder.[3][5][6]

The very first RV-3 built by VanGrunsven won "Best Aerodynamic Detailing" at the 1972 EAA Oshkosh Convention. It also won the 1973 AC/EAA Efficiency Contest.[3][6]

There is an RV-3A model, but its designation does not follow VanGrunsven's normal system, where "A" models are nosewheel equipped versions. An RV-3A is an early RV-3 that has undergone rear spar and wing root upgrades as described in Van's publication CN-1. Due to ongoing 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 restarted 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.[7]

By February 2023, 305 RV-3s had been completed and flown.[1]

Aircraft on display

Specifications (RV-3B)
Van's Aircraft RV-3 instrument panel

Data from Manufacturer[9]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: no passengers
  • Length: 19 ft 0 in (5.79 m)
  • Wingspan: 19 ft 11 in (6.07 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m)
  • Wing area: 90 sq ft (8.4 m2)
  • Empty weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 30 US gal (110 L; 25 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320 fixed pitch, 150 hp (110 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 196 mph (315 km/h, 170 kn) 75% power at 8,000 ft (2,500 m)
  • Stall speed: 51 mph (82 km/h, 44 kn)
  • Range: 595 mi (958 km, 517 nmi) at cruise 75% power at 8,000 ft (2,500 m)
  • Service ceiling: 23,500 ft (7,200 m)
  • Rate of climb: 2,050 ft/min (10.4 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 12.22 lb/sq ft (59.7 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 7.3 lb/hp

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
  1. Van's aircraft (February 2023). "First Flights". Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  2. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 74. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  3. Plane and Pilot, 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 159, Werner and Werner, Santa Monica CA 1978
  4. Van's Aircraft (2005). "Van's Aircraft RV-3". www.vansaircraft.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  5. Armstrong, Kenneth, Choosing Your Homebuilt – The One You'll Finish And Fly, pages 363, Butterfield Press, Templeton CA 1993.
  6. Bowers, Peter M, Guide to Homebuilts, page 234, 9th Edition, TAB Books Blue Ridge Summit PA, 1984.
  7. Van's aircraft. "RV-3 Experience the Original RV Grin". vansaircraft.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  8. EAA AirVenture Museum (2012). "Van Grunsven RV-3 Prototype – N17RV". Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  9. Van's Aircraft. "Introducing the Van's RV-3 through RV-9" (PDF). vansaircraft.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
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