Expected to Begin Production by Late 2025

Richard “Van” VanGrunsven, the founder of Van’s Aircraft, recently celebrated his 85th birthday by test-flying the new RV-15X prototype. The RV-15 is slated to reach the market in late 2025.

Van established the company in 1970 and began selling kits three years later. Since then, Van’s Aircraft has produced one of the most popular lines of kit aircraft ever. Over 10,000 of its kits are flying worldwide.

On November 17, Van celebrated his 85th birthday by taking the manufacturer’s latest design, the RV-15, for a test flight. This prototype is Van’s first high-wing design, featuring a Lycoming IO-390 EXP-119 powerplant and an 80-inch composite Hartzell Trailblazer propeller producing 215 hp. The final RV-15 will be a backcountry-capable, high-performance, two-seater aircraft targeting a cruise speed of 140 knots.

“From the beginning, the RV-15X’s performance has been very good, as reported and demonstrated in videos,” Van explained. “However, we’ve continued to work hard to achieve the control response and harmony expected from an ‘RV.’ We’re very happy with it now, though we continue to make minor improvements.”

Between the current prototype and the production model, Van’s has several tweaks in the works. The manufacturer is constructing a new fuselage to shift the wing aft around 4 inches, providing minor changes to the seat-wing-engine ratio. There will also be some changes to the instrument panel to maintain good forward visibility while enhancing ergonomics.

The RV-15 is designed to be roomy, giving the now 5’11” Van a good three inches of headroom even while sitting on cushions.

“One definition of ‘Flying like an RV’ is that it comes close to being an extension of your thoughts,” Van continued. “For a backcountry airplane, this does not mean that it flies like an RV-8, but rather that it responds naturally and quickly to pilot control commands. We’re confident that you will like the RV-15. Now that we have refined the configuration details, we are moving on to the next phase of structural refinement and kit development.”

The design was first introduced at the 2022 EAA Oshkosh AirVenture. Followers got some new updates at the 2024 airshow, including an anticipated production date of late 2025.

FMI: www.vansaircraft.com