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 2700 kits have been completed and flown.[2]
An RV-6 with an elaborate paint scheme at Sun 'n Fun 2006.A RV-6 taxiing at the Brockville Ontario fly-in June 2005. This aircraft has the earlier design forward-hinged canopyA RV-6A – the nose wheel equipped version of the RV-6. This aircraft has the later sliding canopy.A RV-6 instrument panel showing typical instruments and avionics found in these aircraftVans RV-6A takeoffVan's RV-6A landing
The RV-6 and RV-6A were replaced by the similar, but improved, RV-7 in 2001.[1] Kit components are still available to allow builders to complete RV-6s under construction, but no new complete kits are available.
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 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 (1,100 mm) 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 (5 km/h) slower than 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. One RV-6A was modified for open cockpit flight with an enclosed rear turtledeck.[3]
The RV-6A version features steel rod landing gear with the nosewheel strut attached to the engine mount. The nosewheel is friction 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 Beetleedit
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 and test flown in Nigeria, entering 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. The only other amateur aircraft to have this distinction is the Pazmany PL-1, which was built as a trainer for Taiwan's Air Force in the 1970s.
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 of 28.67 ft (8.74 m).[4]
^"Open-Cockpit Flying in an RV". Sport Aviation: 84. March 2015.
^Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 156. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
^Van's Aircraft (2008). . Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
^Van's Aircraft (2008). . Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN0-7106-1066-1.
Van's Aircraft website – Nigerian Air Force June 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Van's Aircraft RV-6.
Van's Aircraft
January 01, 1970
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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 2700 kits have been completed and flown 2 RV 6 Role Kit aircraft National origin United States Manufacturer Van s Aircraft Designer Richard VanGrunsven First flight 1985 1 Status No longer sold Number built 2706 November 2022 2 Developed from Van s Aircraft RV 4 Variants Aviation Industries of Iran AVA 202 An RV 6 with an elaborate paint scheme at Sun n Fun 2006 A RV 6 taxiing at the Brockville Ontario fly in June 2005 This aircraft has the earlier design forward hinged canopy A RV 6A the nose wheel equipped version of the RV 6 This aircraft has the later sliding canopy A RV 6 instrument panel showing typical instruments and avionics found in these aircraft Vans RV 6A takeoff Van s RV 6A landing The RV 6 and RV 6A were replaced by the similar but improved RV 7 in 2001 1 Kit components are still available to allow builders to complete RV 6s under construction but no new complete kits are available Contents 1 Development 2 Nigerian Air Force RV 6A Air Beetle 3 AVA 202 4 Operators 5 Specifications RV 6 180 hp 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDevelopment editVan 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 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 1 100 mm 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 5 km h slower than 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 One RV 6A was modified for open cockpit flight with an enclosed rear turtledeck 3 The RV 6A version features steel rod landing gear with the nosewheel strut attached to the engine mount The nosewheel is friction 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 editThe 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 and test flown in Nigeria entering 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 The only other amateur aircraft to have this distinction is the Pazmany PL 1 which was built as a trainer for Taiwan s Air Force in the 1970s AVA 202 editMain article Aviation Industries of Iran 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 of 28 67 ft 8 74 m 4 Operators edit nbsp Nigeria Nigerian Air Force RV 6A Specifications RV 6 180 hp editData from Van s website 5 6 General characteristicsCrew one Capacity one passenger Length 20 ft 2 in 6 15 m Wingspan 23 ft 0 in 7 01 m Height 5 ft 3 in 1 60 m Wing area 110 sq ft 10 m2 Aspect ratio 4 81 Empty weight 965 lb 438 kg Gross weight 1 600 lb 726 kg Fuel capacity 38 U S gallons 140 L 32 imp gal Powerplant 1 Lycoming O 360 four cylinder four stroke air cooled horizontally opposed aircraft engine 180 hp 130 kW Performance Maximum speed 210 mph 340 km h 180 kn Cruise speed 199 mph 320 km h 173 kn Stall speed 49 mph 79 km h 43 kn Range 720 mi 1 160 km 630 nmi at 75 and 8000 feet Service ceiling 25 700 ft 7 800 m Rate of climb 2 275 ft min 11 56 m s Wing loading 14 55 lb sq ft 71 0 kg m2 Power mass 0 1125See also editRelated development Van s Aircraft RV 4 Van s Aircraft RV 7 Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aircraft Technologies Atlantis Europa XS Grumman American AA 1 Rand Robinson KR 1 Thorp T 18 Pazmany PL 1References edit a b Vans Aircraft April 2019 Van s RV 6 6A Retrieved April 13 2019 a b Vans Aircraft November 2022 First Flights Retrieved November 7 2022 Open Cockpit Flying in an RV Sport Aviation 84 March 2015 Bayerl Robby Martin Berkemeier et al World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011 12 page 156 WDLA UK Lancaster UK 2011 ISSN 1368 485X Van s Aircraft 2008 Specifications Archived from the original on March 14 2012 Retrieved March 10 2012 Van s Aircraft 2008 Performance Archived from the original on February 29 2012 Retrieved March 10 2012 Lambert Mark Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1993 94 Coulsdon UK Jane s Data Division 1993 ISBN 0 7106 1066 1 Van s Aircraft Website Van s Aircraft website Nigerian Air Force Archived June 15 2006 at the Wayback Machine International Air Force Directory 1999 2000External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Van s Aircraft RV 6 Van s Aircraft Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Van 27s Aircraft RV 6 amp oldid 1162488696, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
