Richard "Dick" Van Grunsven celebrated his 85th birthday by taking to the skies to perform a flight test of the RV-15X. This event was not just a routine test flight but a celebration of decades of passion, innovation, and dedication to aviation. As he climbed into the cockpit, it was evident that Van, now standing at 5’11” (having gracefully settled down from his youthful height of 6’1″), was still full of enthusiasm and energy that belied his years.
To ensure he could comfortably reach the controls and see clearly out of the cockpit, Van required a generous stack of cushions to help him “sit tall” in the RV-15X. This thoughtful adjustment was emblematic of the care and attention to detail that has always characterized his approach to aviation. Despite the extra cushions, he still enjoyed an impressive 2 ½” of headroom above him—a clear testament to the RV-15X’s spacious cabin design, meticulously crafted to provide comfort and functionality for pilots of all sizes.
The RV-15X, with its innovative features and advanced engineering, reflects Van's lifelong commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of light aircraft. As he prepared for takeoff, the excitement in the air was palpable, not just for the test flight itself but for the legacy of aviation that Van has contributed to over the years.
Van shared “From the beginning, the RV-15X’s performance has been very good, as reported and demonstrated in videos. However, we’ve continued to work hard to achieve the control response and harmony expected from an ‘RV.’ We’re very happy with it now, though we continue to make minor improvements. One definition of ‘Flying like an RV’ is that it comes close to being an extension of your thoughts. For a backcountry aeroplane, this does not mean that it flies like an RV-8, but rather that it responds naturally and quickly to pilot control commands. We’re confident that you will like the RV-15. Now that we have refined the configuration details, we are moving on to the next phase of structural refinement and kit development.”
As Vans advances to the subsequent phases of development, they undertake to continue to provide regular updates on the RV-15. Vans is thrilled about the recent progress, and the RV-15 remains a primary focus for Van’s Aircraft as we accelerate the pace of this exciting project.
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