On Friday, September 17, the Hobbs meter on the Vans Aircraft web site registered the 1000th RV8 aircraft to fly. That number represents an average of a new RV8 (or its sibling the tricycle gear RV8A) in the air every fifth day since the design was introduced in 1996.
There are about 2000 RV8/8As under construction, so it will probably continue to hold its place as one of, if not the most popular, tandem two-seat kit airplane ever. Well over 3000 kits have have been started, the company says, so new ones should continue to be flying with regularity.
As if 1000 examples of the RV8 were not enough, sometime in November the company expects the 7000th RV overall to fly. Just where the event will happen, nobody knows, as RVs have shipped to 45 different countries, including Texas. We’ll have to wait and see.
For more information, visit Van’s Aircraft.
