Van’s Aircraft sent out an email update where the company says it’s off to a great start in 2025, gaining momentum by enhancing operations, supporting the RV community, and making significant progress on the RV-15.
Through March, Van’s has shipped 3,430 orders, including parts and kits. Packaging for all empennage/tail kits has been redesigned for enhanced protection, greatly reducing component damage. Improved quality checks have also been implemented, resulting in fewer inventory errors and more accurate orders.
More weldments are now produced in-house, allowing for improved weld fixtures and enhanced quality. The manufacturing floor has been reorganized and optimized to shorten production times and reduce lead times.
The supply chain team continues efforts to increase efficiency, reduce lead times, and strengthen supplier relationships. Enhanced production planning now enables empennage/tail kits to ship within two weeks of order placement.
Van’s Aircraft is producing the RV-12iS aircraft at a rate of three per month. Current orders are projected for delivery in November 2025. Efforts are underway to increase production capacity further. The RV-12iS has become popular in flight training, now serving 40 flight schools nationwide as an economical and fuel-efficient trainer for private, IFR, and commercial ratings.
A new Kit Improvements Team has been formed, dedicated to refining existing kits and instructions based on customer feedback. Efforts focus on optimizing packaging methods, enhancing instruction clarity, and streamlining the building process.
Customer service remains a priority, with team expansion improving response times. So far this year, Van’s customer service team has responded to over 4,626 emails and 4,701 calls, committed to providing timely support as more customers build and fly RVs.
RV-15 Project Update
The production wing and empennage designs have advanced considerably, with fuselage details taking shape and digital models translating into physical components. Weight reductions and streamlined design have yielded Van’s fastest-building wing to date.
A new test fixture designed to evaluate full aircraft structures has already been used to verify compliance with future ASTM MOSAIC standards for the production wing, with empennage testing to follow shortly. Production wings and tail components are set for installation next month, and spin testing is planned for Q2—well ahead of Oshkosh. Van’s engineering team continues to grow, actively recruiting design engineers and drafters passionate about aviation.
Van’s Aircraft will not be SUN ’n FUN this year, but preparations are already underway for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh where the company will be in their regular booth (#604) at the Homebuilt Aircraft Display area.
