Van’s Aircraft Fleet Now Numbers 6,000 + and Counting

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Van's Aircraft is a highly prolific producer of homebuilt aircraft kits, with its 6,000th kit recently taking flight and new aircraft being completed at a rate of two per day.
  • The company anticipates reaching its next 1,000-aircraft milestone faster due to reduced build times for its kits, which have been shipped for 33 years.
  • Van's is expanding into the light sport aircraft market with its new RV-12 kit, which is expected to cost less than $65,000 to complete.
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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.

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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