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.
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]
^Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 74. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
^ abcPlane and Pilot, 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 159, Werner and Werner, Santa Monica CA 1978
^Van's Aircraft (2005). . www.vansaircraft.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^ abArmstrong, Kenneth, Choosing Your Homebuilt – The One You'll Finish And Fly, pages 363, Butterfield Press, Templeton CA 1993.
^ abcBowers, Peter M, Guide to Homebuilts, page 234, 9th Edition, TAB Books Blue Ridge Summit PA, 1984.
^ abVan's aircraft. "RV-3 Experience the Original RV Grin". vansaircraft.com. from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^EAA AirVenture Museum (2012). "Van Grunsven RV-3 Prototype – N17RV". Retrieved May 11, 2012.
^Van's Aircraft. "Introducing the Van's RV-3 through RV-9" (PDF). vansaircraft.com. (PDF) from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
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Van's Aircraft RV-3
July 17, 2023
aircraft, single, seat, single, engine, wing, aircraft, sold, aircraft, unlike, many, other, aircraft, line, only, available, tail, wheel, equipped, aircraft, although, possible, that, some, have, been, completed, builders, nose, wheel, versions, genesis, desi. 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 3Role Kit aircraftNational origin United StatesManufacturer Van s AircraftDesigner Richard VanGrunsvenIntroduction 1971Status RV 3 Production completedRV 3B In productionNumber built 305 February 2023 1 Developed from Stits PlayboyRV 3Van s Aircraft RV 3 showing the design s low frontal area Contents 1 Development 2 Aircraft on display 3 Specifications RV 3B 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment EditThe 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 EditEAA AirVenture Museum RV 3 Prototype N17RV 8 Specifications RV 3B Edit Van s Aircraft RV 3 instrument panelData from Manufacturer 9 General characteristicsCrew 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 hpSee also EditRelated development Van s Aircraft RV 4 Van s Aircraft RV 6Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aircraft Technologies Acro 1 Rand Robinson KR 1 Stits PlayboyReferences Edit a b Van s aircraft February 2023 First Flights Retrieved February 10 2023 Vandermeullen Richard 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer s Guide Kitplanes Volume 28 Number 12 December 2011 page 74 Belvoir Publications ISSN 0891 1851 a b c Plane and Pilot 1978 Aircraft Directory page 159 Werner and Werner Santa Monica CA 1978 Van s Aircraft 2005 Van s Aircraft RV 3 www vansaircraft com Archived from the original on June 15 2006 Retrieved February 10 2023 a b Armstrong Kenneth Choosing Your Homebuilt The One You ll Finish And Fly pages 363 Butterfield Press Templeton CA 1993 a b c Bowers Peter M Guide to Homebuilts page 234 9th Edition TAB Books Blue Ridge Summit PA 1984 a b Van s aircraft RV 3 Experience the Original RV Grin vansaircraft com Archived from the original on January 3 2023 Retrieved February 10 2023 EAA AirVenture Museum 2012 Van Grunsven RV 3 Prototype N17RV Retrieved May 11 2012 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 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Van s Aircraft RV 3 Van s Aircraft RV 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Van 27s Aircraft RV 3 amp oldid 1138630874, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
