In the face of declining orders and factory layoffs, selected garages around the world have become one of the most prolific aircraft production sources in the industry today. Last December, the 6,000th Van's Aircraft homebuilt kit took flight, and new aircraft are being completed at a rate of two per day. The 6,000th Van's product was a four-place RV-10. The company makes kits for a variety of two-place models and anticipates entering the light sport aircraft and experimental light sport aircraft arenas with its new RV-12. The latest Van's kit is expected to cost less than $65,000 to complete. Van's has been shipping kits for 33 years, starting with the single-place RV-3. Company founder Richard VanGrunsven said that reduced build times mean he expects to reach the next 1,000-aircraft milestone even faster than the last.
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