Van's Aircraft RV-8

infobox Aircraft
name = RV-8
type = RV-8

manufacturer = Van's Aircraft



caption =
designer = Richard VanGrunsven
first flight = 1998
introduction = 1998
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 782 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-$98,000
developed from = Van's Aircraft RV-7
variants with their own articles =

The Van’s RV-8 is a tandem two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt aircraft sold in kit form by Van’s Aircraft. The RV-8 is equipped with conventional landing gear, while the RV-8A version features tricycle landing gear. The design is a larger development of the RV-4, and is similar in appearance to the earlier model.

Development

Richard VanGrunsven designed the RV-8 series as an improved RV-4, itself a two-seat version of the single seat RV-3. The RV-8 first flew in 1995 and was first shown publicly at Oshkosh that year.

The RV-8 incorporated changes as a result of lessons learned in producing the popular RV-4 design. The RV-8 airframe will accept larger engines, including the Lycoming IO-360, up to 200 hp. The RV-8 also has increased wingspan and wing area over the RV-4, as well as more cockpit width, headroom, legroom and an increased useful load, all with a view to accommodating larger pilots. Like all other RV series aircraft, except the RV-9 and 10, the RV-8 series are stressed for aerobatics.

The RV-8 shares many common parts with the RV-7 and RV-9 which reduces production costs. Like the RV-7, the RV-8 uses computer assisted design to produce a kit with pre-drilled rivet holes, thus greatly reducing assembly time for the builder.

The RV-8 was intended from the start to have a nose-gear stablemate designated the RV-8A. The RV-8A was first flown in 1998 and features tubular steel landing gear with the nosewheel mounting tube welded to the engine mount. As in all nose-wheel equipped RV aircraft, the nosewheel is free castering and the aircraft is steered with differential braking. The brakes are mounted conventionally on the rudder pedal toes.

By March 2008 782 RV-8s and RV-8As were flying.

Aircraft Type Club

The RV-8 and RV-8A have a very active aircraft type club "Van's Air Force" that provides support for owners and pilots of these types.

pecifications (RV-8)

Specifications are given for 200HP, IO-360 configuration with a Hartzell constant speed propeller

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=one pilot
capacity=one passenger
length main=21 ft 0 in
length alt=6.46 m
span main=24 ft 0 in
span alt=7.38 m
height main=5 ft 7 in
height alt=1.71 m
area main=116 ft²

area alt= 10.7 m²
empty weight main=1120 lb
empty weight alt=507 kg
loaded weight main=1,800 lb
loaded weight alt=815 kg
max takeoff weight main= 1,800lb
max takeoff weight alt= 815kg
engine (prop)=Lycoming O-320, Lycoming O-360 or Lycoming IO-360
type of prop=fixed pitch or constant speed
number of props=1
power main= 150-200hp
power alt= 112-149 kW

max speed main= 222 mph at sea level

max speed alt= 360 km/h
never exceed speed main= mph
never exceed speed alt= km/h
range main=780 statute miles at cruise 75% power at 8,000 ft

range alt=1,264 km at cruise 75% power at 2,500 m

ceiling main=22,500 ft

ceiling alt= 6,900 m
climb rate main=1,900 ft/min

climb rate alt=9.7 m/s
loading main=15.5 lb/ft²

loading alt= 78 kg/m²

References

* [http://vansaircraft.com/public/rv-8int.htm Van's Aircraft]

External links

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

Related content

Related development

* Van's Aircraft RV-3
* Van's Aircraft RV-4

imilar aircraft

* Van's Aircraft RV-4