Vans RV-3
The Stits SA-3A Playboy served as a catalyst for Richard VanGrunsven, who, after modifying and improving the Playboy in 1965 (and calling it an RV-1), was further inspired to build an airplane of his own design — the RV-3.
Richard VanGrunsven’s all-metal, single seat monoplane won the “Best Aerodynamic Detailing” award at the 1972 EAA Fly-in. The wings are built around a single I-beam spar and a lighter rear spar. The fuselage and tail unit are built of light alloy, and the engine is covered with a fiberglass cowling. The landing gear is the nonretrac-table tailwheel type with Cleveland brakes and fiberglass wheel fairings.
New sales of the RV-3 were suspended in 1996. However, in response to popular demand, the RV-3B with a new wing spar design is now back on the market. The empennage, fuselage, and finishing kits are essentially unchanged, however, the wing kits are new, and are available in two types: new and retro-fit. Builders also will have a choice between standard and QuickBuild wings, regardless if for a new project or retrofitting to an existing plane.
The difference between new and retro-fit spars is that some holes are left un-drilled in the retro-fit version so they may be matched to holes in the existing structure. Retro-fitting will mean removing the current fuselage center section and replacing it with the new one. While this may sound like major surgery, it is actually easier than trying to drill a spar accurately to a center section in an existing airplane.
The new RV-3B spars use four-piece construction, are gold anodized, and come completely assembled. New RV-3B wings have standard 15 gallon per side wing tanks, attached to the spar with screws and bolts so they may be removed for repair without taking a wing off the fuselage. Standard kit wing skins are not pre-punched. Bellcranks and tiedowns are now simple units that bolt on to holes already in the spar.
The RV-3B QuickBuild wings are similar in form to the RV-8/8A QuickBuild wings. They arrive with flaps and ailerons complete, tanks sealed and tested, leaving the builder only to add aileron brackets, flap braces, wing tips, and one outboard skin to complete the wing.
NOTICE: In order to operate RV-3/3A aircraft with pre-RV-3B wing designs in the aerobatic category, the owner must either complete appropriate spar Change Notices (materials provided at no charge) or purchase new wing kits. Until implementation of the appropriate spar Change Notice, kit/aircraft owners should comply with Van’s Aircraft’s previously published March 1996 flight recommendations:
"RECOMMENDATION: Until the spar modification is performed, we recommend that the RV-3 pilots immediately limit their flight G loads to a maximum 4.4 G’s; utility category. Based on our test results of an ultimate load of 7.3 G’s, a 50% over-strength margin would permit a flight limit load of 4.9 G’s at a gross weight of 1050 lbs. Since the 4.9 G’s is below the 6 G specification for the aerobatic category, no aerobatic maneuvers should be performed. Dropping back farther to utility category flight will offer an additional margin of safety."
A logbook entry should be made prohibiting aerobatics until one of the Change Notice spar modifications is accomplished
More than 3,300 RVs were reportedly completed and flying by mid-2003.
Engine: Lycoming 125 hp
Prop: fixed pitch wood
Span: 19 ft 11 in
Length: 19 ft
Height: 5 ft
Wing Area: 90 sq ft
Empty Weight wo electrics: 703 lbs
Empty Weight with electrics: 750 lbs
Gross Weight: 1100 lbs
Wing Loading: 12.22 lbs/sq ft
Power Loading: 11.0 - 6.9 lb/hp
Fuel Capacity: 30 US gal
Baggage: 30 lbs
Top Speed: 195 mph
Cruise 75% @ 8000': 185 mph
Cruise 55% @ 8000': 166 mph
Stall Speed: 51 mph
Takeoff Distance: 350 ft
Landing Distance: 350 ft
Rate of Climb: 1,700 fpm
Ceiling: 20,500 ft
Range 75% @ 8000': 640 sm
Range 55% @ 8000': 770 sm
Speed Ratio: 3.82:1
Engine: Lycoming 150 hp
Prop: fixed pitch wood
Span: 19 ft 11 in
Length: 19 ft
Height: 5 ft
Wing Area: 90 sq ft
Empty Weight wo electrics: 703 lbs
Empty Weight with electrics: 750 lbs
Gross Weight: 1100 lbs
Wing Loading: 12.22 lbs/sq ft
Power Loading: 11.0 - 6.9 lb/hp
Top Speed: 207 mph
Cruise 75% @ 8000': 196 mph
Cruise 55% @ 8000': 176 mph
Stall Speed: 51 mph
Takeoff Distance: 300 ft
Landing Distance: 350 ft
Rate of Climb: 2,050 fpm
Ceiling: 23,500 ft
Range 75% @ 8000': 595 sm
Range 55% @ 8000': 715 sm
Speed Ratio: 4.06:1
