RV-11 is Richard VanGrunsven's designation for a proposed single-seat touring motor glider design similar in layout to the AMS Carat. [1] Most touring motor gliders are two-seaters; VanGrunsven felt that the lower drag and weight of a single-seater would allow for superior performance. [2]
Although the designation is the 11th in the Van's Aircraft “RV” series, the RV-11 is not a company project. Rather, it is Richard VanGrunsven’s “personal pet project”, being designed and built at his home in his spare time. [3]
The prototype RV-11 uses the wings of an HP-18 sailplane mated to a specially built fuselage. [4] A Jabiru 2200 was installed in the nose. [5] The panel features an I-K Technologies AIM-1 display and a MicroAir radio. [6] The canopy is the aft half of an RV-4 canopy, rotated 180 degrees so as to face forward. [7] Construction is all-metal, except for the PVC ribs in the HP-18 wings and - as is typical in RVs - some small fiberglass components such as the engine cowl and prop spinner. [2]
The RV-11’s single main landing gear is similar to those of a DC-3, [7] retracting up and forward, “half way” into a pod-like fairing on the underside of the belly. [5]
VanGrunsven first announced the RV-11 in an issue of the RVator newsletter published in 2000. [2] In a 2002 issue, VanGrunsven reported that the prototype was “perhaps 80% complete”. [5] Later issues included photos of the build. [7] [6] In 2022, at an EAA event to celebrate the 50 years of Van's Aircraft, VanGrunsven showed recent photos and reported that, although the airplane has not yet been completed, further progress has been made. [4]
See also
References
- ^ Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2000 issue #2. Archived
- ^ a b c Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2000 issue #1. Archived
- ^ Flying Magazine, " Van’s Aircraft and Those Amazing RVs"
- ^ a b Experimental Aircraft Association, " AirVenture 2022 - Theater in the Woods - Van's 50th Anniversary"
- ^ a b c Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2002 issue #4. Archived
- ^ a b Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2004 issue #2. Archived
- ^ a b c Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2002 issue #6. Archived
RV-11 is Richard VanGrunsven's designation for a proposed single-seat touring motor glider design similar in layout to the AMS Carat. [1] Most touring motor gliders are two-seaters; VanGrunsven felt that the lower drag and weight of a single-seater would allow for superior performance. [2]
Although the designation is the 11th in the Van's Aircraft “RV” series, the RV-11 is not a company project. Rather, it is Richard VanGrunsven’s “personal pet project”, being designed and built at his home in his spare time. [3]
The prototype RV-11 uses the wings of an HP-18 sailplane mated to a specially built fuselage. [4] A Jabiru 2200 was installed in the nose. [5] The panel features an I-K Technologies AIM-1 display and a MicroAir radio. [6] The canopy is the aft half of an RV-4 canopy, rotated 180 degrees so as to face forward. [7] Construction is all-metal, except for the PVC ribs in the HP-18 wings and - as is typical in RVs - some small fiberglass components such as the engine cowl and prop spinner. [2]
The RV-11’s single main landing gear is similar to those of a DC-3, [7] retracting up and forward, “half way” into a pod-like fairing on the underside of the belly. [5]
VanGrunsven first announced the RV-11 in an issue of the RVator newsletter published in 2000. [2] In a 2002 issue, VanGrunsven reported that the prototype was “perhaps 80% complete”. [5] Later issues included photos of the build. [7] [6] In 2022, at an EAA event to celebrate the 50 years of Van's Aircraft, VanGrunsven showed recent photos and reported that, although the airplane has not yet been completed, further progress has been made. [4]
See also
References
- ^ Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2000 issue #2. Archived
- ^ a b c Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2000 issue #1. Archived
- ^ Flying Magazine, " Van’s Aircraft and Those Amazing RVs"
- ^ a b Experimental Aircraft Association, " AirVenture 2022 - Theater in the Woods - Van's 50th Anniversary"
- ^ a b c Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2002 issue #4. Archived
- ^ a b Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2004 issue #2. Archived
- ^ a b c Van’s Aircraft "RVator" newsletter, 2002 issue #6. Archived