Popular Van’s RV-8 to Commemorate 30 Years of Flight

Company will celebrate its all-aluminum homebuilt aircraft at EAA AirVenture.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, July 01, 2025 at 01:14 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The Van's RV-8 with the P-51 Mustang-esque tail is a favorite in the experimental community. [Courtesy: Van's Aircraft]

Key Takeaways:

The Van's RV-8, a popular all-aluminum experimental homebuilt aircraft known for its P-51 Mustang-esque tail and tandem seating, celebrates 30 years of flight this year.
Designed by Richard VanGrunsven as a refinement of earlier models, the RV-8 offers enhanced comfort and is favored by pilots for aerobatics, an enjoyable cockpit ambiance, and an excellent over-the-nose view.
Van's aircraft designs are exceptionally popular within the experimental community, largely due to their continuous refinement across models, with an estimated one-third of all experimental aircraft worldwide being Van's designs.

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If you have the opportunity to visit EAA AirVenture (July 21-27), make sure to head to the experimental aircraft display and marvel at the multiple rows of Van’s RV aircraft.

The low-wing, all-aluminum homebuilt aircraft with the P-51 Mustang-esque tail are favorites in the experimental community. One of the most popular versions, the Van’s RV-8, celebrates 30 years of flight this year.