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Students at Emirates Airlines Complete Van’s RV-12

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A group of 40 Emirates Airlines maintenance trainees completed building a Van's RV-12 kit plane over two years of after-hours work.
  • The project provided students with practical skills in areas such as drilling, riveting, wiring, painting, and documentation.
  • Painted in Emirates livery, the RV-12 is on display at the Dubai Airshow and will serve as a promotional tool to attract young people to Emirates' maintenance careers.
  • The aircraft is currently undergoing final preparations and is expected to make its first flight shortly after the end of the year.
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A group of 40 maintenance trainees at Emirates Airlines’ training academy have completed a Van’s RV-12 kit plane in their after-hours time. Construction took about two years of spare-time work. The light-sport aircraft is painted in Emirates livery and is on display at the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates this week.

The RV-12 has not flown yet, but academy instructor Juan Carlos Cabanos said he expects the first flight to happen shortly after the end of the year. “We still have some engine runs to perform and the aircraft registration process,” he said.

Mark Phelps

Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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