Van's Aircraft RV-6

infobox Aircraft
name = RV-6
type = kit aircraft

manufacturer = Van's Aircraft



caption = An RV-6 with an elaborate paint scheme at Sun 'n Fun 2006.
designer = Richard VanGrunsven
first flight =
introduction =
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 2259 cite web|url = http://vansaircraft.com/public/flights.htm|title = First Flights|accessdate = 2008-03-28|last = Vans Aircraft|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = March]
program cost=
unit cost = USD$41,000-$97,000
developed from = Van's Aircraft RV-4
variants with their own articles =

The Van's RV-6 and RV-6A are two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplanes sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. The RV-6 is the tail-wheel equipped version while the RV-6A features a nose-wheel. The RV-6 was the first aircraft in the popular Van’s RV series to feature side-by-side seating and the first to offer a nosewheel option. It was first flown in 1985. Over 2000 kits have been completed and flown.

The RV-6 kit has been superseded by the similar, but improved, RV-7. Kit components are still available to allow builders to complete RV-6s under construction, but no new complete kits are available.

Development

Van’s Aircraft designer, Richard VanGrunsven, designed the RV-6 series as a two seat side-by-side development of the RV-4, which was itself a development of the single seat RV-3.

Market demand motivated VanGrunsven to design the RV-6 and offer it as an optional nosewheel design. The original two seater RV-4 has been a remarkable success, but the tandem seating configuration was not considered ideal by many potential owners as it leaves the passenger isolated in the back seat. Many female spouses of builders especially favoured the side-by-side configuration over the tandem arrangement.

VanGrunsven worked diligently to create a side-by-side design with a generous 43 inch wide cockpit that did not sacrifice the RV-4’s handling, STOL performance and especially its high cruise speed. In the end the RV-6 prototype produced cruise speeds that are only 3 mph slower that the RV-4 with the same engine.

The first RV-6s had a forward hinged canopy design. This was a simple one-piece arrangement, but it made taxiing the aircraft with the canopy open more difficult. Later kits had the option of a rearward sliding canopy that could more easily provide ventilation on the ground.

The RV-6A version features tubular steel landing gear with the nosewheel mounting tube welded to the engine mount. The nosewheel is free castering and the aircraft is steered with differential braking. The brakes are mounted conventionally on the rudder pedal toes.

Nigerian Air Force RV-6A Air Beetle

The RV-6 has a rare distinction in the world of kit built aircraft - it is used as a military training aircraft. Searching for a suitable trainer that could be assembled in Nigeria using local labour, the government of that country settled on the RV-6A. Van's produced 60 kits to fulfill the order and these were assembled in Nigeria, test flown and entered service with the Nigerian Air Force in 1989 as elementary training aircraft under the name "Air Beetle". The air training school is based at Kaduna, Nigeria.

Aircraft Type Club

The RV-6 and RV-6A have a very active aircraft type club "Van's Air Force" that provides support for owners and pilots of these types.

AVA-202

A modified version of the RV-6A is manufactured in Iran by Aviation Industries of Iran as the AVA-202. First flown in 1997, the main change from the RV-6A is a greater wingspan.

pecifications (RV-6)

Specifications are given for 180HP, O-360 configuration.

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=one pilot
capacity=one passenger
length main=20 ft 2 in
length alt=6.21 m
span main=23 ft 0 in
span alt=7.10 m
height main=5 ft 3 in
height alt=1.62 m
area main=110 ft²

area alt= 10.2 m²
empty weight main=965 lb
empty weight alt=437 kg
loaded weight main=1,600 lb
loaded weight alt=724 kg
max takeoff weight main= 1,600lb
max takeoff weight alt= 724kg
engine (prop)=Lycoming O-320 or Lycoming O-360
type of prop=fixed pitch or constant speed
number of props=1
power main= 150-180hp
power alt= 112-134 kW

max speed main= 210 mph at sea level

max speed alt= 340 km/h
never exceed speed main= mph
never exceed speed alt= km/h
range main=720 statute miles at cruise 75% power at 8,000 ft

range alt=1,166 km at cruise 75% power at 2,500 m

ceiling main=25,700 ft

ceiling alt= 7,900 m
climb rate main=1,790 ft/min

climb rate alt=9.2 m/s
loading main=14.5 lb/ft²

loading alt= 73 kg/m²

Related content

Related development

* Van's Aircraft RV-4
* Van's Aircraft RV-7

imilar aircraft

* Europa XS
* Grumman American AA-1
* Thorp T-18

External links

* [http://vansaircraft.com/ Van's Aircraft]
* [http://www.vansairforce.net Van's Aircraft Type Club]

References

* [http://vansaircraft.com/public/rv-6int.htm Van's Aircraft Website]
* [http://www.vansaircraft.com/public/nigerian.htm Van's Aircraft website - Nigerian Air Force]
* [http://mylima.com/airforce/n2.htm International Air Force Directory 1999-2000]