Vans RV-6
Aeronautical Industrial Engineering And Project Management Company Ltd. / AIEP Air Beetle / T18

Soon after the RV-4 proved that a two seat RV was practical, prospective customers began asking for a side-by-side RV.
When the demand became too big to ignore, Van went back to the drafting board. Using what he’d learned from the RV-3 and RV-4, he designed the RV-6.
He made it 43 inches wide and gave it a baggage compartment behind the seats. The wing on the RV-4 worked so well that there was no point in changing it, so he didn’t. The canopy was a forward opening bubble that closed almost seamlessly and the fuel capacity was increased.
The RV-6 made its first flight in 1985. When all the flight testing was done, it was only three miles per hour slower than the RV-4.
One limit to RV sales had always been the fact that they were all tailwheel airplanes. Installing a nose wheel solved the problem. The RV-6A featured a very simple tricycle gear, with steel rod main gear legs and a free castoring nosewheel. The nosegear leg was supported by the steel engine mount and required no complicated steering mechanisms or shock absorbers. The modification resulted in very little weight gain and almost negligible performance loss.
After the RV-6A was flying, Van’s designed a sliding canopy option on both the RV-6 and RV-6A. 

Kits were priced at $11,810-12,565, and a quick-build kit at $19,320-19,995.

Eustace Bowhay, of Salmon Arm, BC, is a pilot with vast experience in both land and water aircraft. He carefully researched the matter and decided that the RV-6 had the potential to be an excellent floatplane. After consulting engineers, he designed a float installation and submitted it to the Canadian authorities for engineering approval. The Canadian Ministry of Transport determined that the RV-6 was strong enough, without modification, to handle the added stresses and loads imposed by flying off water. Cruise speeds, with the 180 hp Lycoming and constant speed prop, were 150 statue miles per hour. The water handling characteristics were excellent and the airplane was easy to land and taxi on land or water.
After flying the airplane on both wheels and straight floats for two years, Eustace and Jim decided they could have the best of both worlds, and installed amphibious floats. These worked just as well.
In 2005, Eustace, then over 80, decided that it was time to step out of the cockpit. C-GHAY was converted back to wheels and sold. Eustace died in 2006

Aeronautical Industrial Engineering And Project Management Company Ltd. / AIEP, in Nigeria was established 1979 to assemble kits of the Van's RV-6A, known locally as Air Beetle and used by the Nigerian Air Force as the T18 trainer.

The RV-6s normal limit of plus or minus 6g, fully aerobatic in the sports category. The carburetted 160 hp Lycoming 0-320H2AD. Empty weight is 1010 lbs and the 1600 lb MAUW and full fuel of 144 litres.
Climb speed of 90 kts brings only about 2350 rpm, with around 1200 fpm indicated. This RV-6 will climb at 1600 fpm at MAUW at its best angle speed of 65 kts. Cruise at 75 percent power is slightly better than 150 kts, not much slower than full power.

Gallery

Variation:
Aviation Industries of Iran AVA-202

RV-6
Engine: Lycoming O-320, 150 hp
Span: 23 ft
Length: 20 ft 2 in
Height: 5 ft 3 in
Wing Area: 110 sq ft
Empty Weight: 965 lbs
Gross Weight: 1600 lbs
Wing Loading: 14.5 lb/sq ft
Power Loading: 10 lb/hp
Engine: 150-180 hp
Propeller:  fixed or C/S
Fuel Capacity: 38 US gal
Baggage: 60 lbs
Top Speed: 197 mph
Cruise 75% @ 8000 ft: 186 mph
Cruise 55% @ 8000 ft: 168 mph
Stall Speed: 55 mph
Takeoff Distance: 550 ft
Landing Distance: 500 ft
Rate of Climb: 1,355 fpm
Ceiling: 15,800 ft
Range 75% @ 8000 ft: 775 sm
Range 55% @ 8000 ft: 950 sm

RV-6
Engine: Lycoming O-320, 160 hp
Span: 23 ft
Length: 20 ft 2 in
Height: 5 ft 3 in
Wing Area: 110 sq ft
Empty Weight: 965 lbs
Gross Weight: 1600 lbs
Wing Loading: 14.5 lb/sq ft
Power Loading: 10 lb/hp
Engine: 150-180 hp
Propeller:  fixed or C/S
Fuel Capacity: 38 US gal
Baggage: 60 lbs
Top Speed: 201 mph
Cruise 75% @ 8000 ft: 190 mph
Cruise 55% @ 8000 ft: 171 mph
Stall Speed: 55 mph
Takeoff Distance: 535 ft
Landing Distance: 500 ft
Rate of Climb: 1,500 fpm
Ceiling: 17,400 ft
Range 75% @ 8000 ft: 775 sm
Range 55% @ 8000 ft: 950 sm

RV-6
Engine: 180 hp
Span: 23 ft
Length: 20 ft 2 in
Height: 5 ft 3 in
Wing Area: 110 sq ft
Empty Weight: 965 lbs
Gross Weight: 1600 lbs
Wing Loading: 14.5 lb/sq ft
Power Loading: 10 lb/hp
Engine: 150-180 hp
Propeller:  fixed or C/S
Fuel Capacity: 38 US gal
Baggage: 60 lbs
Top Speed: 209 mph
Cruise 75% @ 8000 ft: 198 mph
Cruise 55% @ 8000 ft: 178 mph
Stall Speed: 55 mph
Takeoff Distance: 475 ft
Landing Distance: 500 ft
Rate of Climb: 1,790 fpm
Ceiling: 20,800 ft
Range 75% @ 8000 ft: 720 sm
Range 55% @ 8000 ft: 880 sm

RV-6A
Engine: 150 hp
Span: 23 ft
Length: 19 ft 9 in
Height: 6 ft 8 in
Wing Area: 110 sq ft
Empty Weight: 985 lbs
Gross Weight: 1650 lbs
Wing Loading: 15 lb/sq ft
Power Loading: 10.3 lb/hp
Engine: 150-180 hp
Propeller:  fixed or C/S
Fuel Capacity: 38 US gal
Baggage: 60 lbs
Top Speed: 195 mph
Cruise 75% @ 8000 ft: 184 mph
Cruise 55% @ 8000 ft: 166 mph
Stall Speed: 55 mph
Takeoff Distance: 560 ft
Landing Distance: 500 ft
Rate of Climb: 1,305 fpm
Ceiling: 14,750 ft
Range 75% @ 8000 ft: 760 sm
Range 55% @ 8000 ft: 875 sm

RV-6A
Engine: 160 hp
Span: 23 ft
Length: 19 ft 9 in
Height: 6 ft 8 in
Wing Area: 110 sq ft
Empty Weight: 985 lbs
Gross Weight: 1650 lbs
Wing Loading: 15 lb/sq ft
Power Loading: 10.3 lb/hp
Engine: 150-180 hp
Propeller:  fixed or C/S
Fuel Capacity: 38 US gal
Baggage: 60 lbs
Top Speed: 199 mph
Cruise 75% @ 8000 ft: 188 mph
Cruise 55% @ 8000 ft: 169 mph
Stall Speed: 55 mph
Takeoff Distance: 535 ft
Landing Distance: 500 ft
Rate of Climb: 1,450 fpm
Ceiling: 16,300 ft
Range 75% @ 8000 ft: 760 sm
Range 55% @ 8000 ft: 875 sm

RV-6A
Engine: 180 hp
Span: 23 ft
Length: 19 ft 9 in
Height: 6 ft 8 in
Wing Area: 110 sq ft
Empty Weight: 985 lbs
Gross Weight: 1650 lbs
Wing Loading: 15 lb/sq ft
Power Loading: 10.3 lb/hp
Engine: 150-180 hp
Propeller:  fixed or C/S
Fuel Capacity: 38 US gal
Baggage: 60 lbs
Top Speed: 207 mph
Cruise 75% @ 8000 ft: 196 mph
Cruise 55% @ 8000 ft: 176 mph
Stall Speed: 55 mph
Takeoff Distance: 485 ft
Landing Distance: 500 ft
Rate of Climb: 1,740 fpm
Ceiling: 19,700 ft
Range 75% @ 8000 ft: 705 sm
Range 55% @ 8000 ft: 810 sm