Van's Aircraft RV-3

infobox Aircraft
name = RV-3
type = RV-3

manufacturer = Van's Aircraft

---

caption =
designer = Richard VanGrunsven
first flight =
introduction =
retired =
status = RV-3: Production completed
RV-3B: In production
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 255 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$35,000-$63,000
developed from = Stits Playboy
variants with their own articles =

The Van's RV-3 is a single-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplane kit airplane sold by Van's Aircraft.

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 of 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.

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, although some builders have fitted RV-3s with more powerful engines.

The RV-3 uses a NACA 23015 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 simple flaps operated by a handle. The main landing gear is attached directly to the welded steel engine mount and consists of tapered, sprung steel tubes. Construction time for the RV-3 is reported to be 1300 hours for a first time builder.

The very first RV-3 built by VanGrunsven won “Best Aerodynamic Detailing” at the 1972 EAA Convention in Oshkosh in 1972.

Due to 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 re-started 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. There is no RV-3A as in VanGrunsven’s designation system “A” models refer to nosewheel equipped versions.

By March 2008 255 RV-3s had been completed and were flying.

Aircraft Type Club

The RV-3 and the rest of the RV series share a very active aircraft type club "Van's Air Force" that provides support for owners and pilots of all these aircraft.

pecifications (RV-3)

Performance for an RV-3 equipped with a Lycoming O-320 150 BHP and fixed pitch wooden propeller

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=one pilot
capacity=no passengers
length main=19 ft 0 in
length alt=5.85 m
span main=19 ft 11in
span alt=6.12 m
height main=5 ft 0 in
height alt=1.54 m
area main=90 ft²

area alt= 8.35 m²
empty weight main=750 lb
empty weight alt=340 kg
loaded weight main=1,100 lb
loaded weight alt=498 kg
max takeoff weight main= 1,100lb
max takeoff weight alt= 498kg
engine (prop)= Lycoming O-235 or Lycoming O-320
type of prop=fixed pitch
number of props=1
power main= 100-150hp
power alt= 75-111 kW

max speed main= 207 mph at sea level

max speed alt= 335 km/h
never exceed speed main= mph
never exceed speed alt= km/h
range main=595 statute miles at cruise 75% power at 8,000 ft

range alt=963 km at cruise 75% power at 2,500 m

ceiling main=23,500 ft

ceiling alt= 7200 m
climb rate main=2,050 ft/min

climb rate alt=10.5 m/s
loading main=12.2 lb/ft²

loading alt= 61 kg/m²

Related content

Related development

* Van's Aircraft RV-4
* Van's Aircraft RV-6

Similar aircraft

* Stits Playboy

External links

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

References

* [http://vansaircraft.com/public/rv-3int.htm Van's Aircraft Website]
* Armstrong, Kenneth, "Choosing Your Homebuilt – The One You’ll Finish And Fly", Butterfield Press, Templeton CA 1993.
* Bowers, Peter M, "Guide to Homebuilts" 9th Edition, TAB Books Blue Ridge Summit PA, 1984.
* Plane and Pilot, "1978 Aircraft Directory", Werner and Werner, Santa Monica CA 1978