About 70% of our customers prefer side by side seating and the Vans RV7 and RV-7A has a roomy cockpitVans RV7 and 7A The RV7 and RV-7A is Van’s most popular current design, Since the RV-7/7A replaced the most popular kit aircraft in history, Vans Aircraft RV-6/6A, this is probably no surprise.
The seating arrangement puts both occupants on an equal footing –standard dual controls and optional dual brakes give either occupant full control with equal visibility. The Vans RV7 and RV7A retains all the traditional RV virtues. It is an all-around sport airplane, with excellent cross-country capability, fine aerobatic qualities and superior handling. A typical Vans RV-7 can hold two FAA standard pilots, 100 lbs. of baggage and full tanks: 42 gallons. At the aerobatic gross weight of 1600 lbs., the RV7 and RV7A complies with the +6/-3G standards of the FAAs Aerobatic Category and can still carry two people, making it possible for a new pilot to get aerobatic instruction before he or she starts rolling and looping.
All RVs are capable of very short take-offs and landings and the Vans RV7 and RV7A is no exception. Equipped with any Lycoming engine between 150 and 200 hp, and either a fixed-pitch or constant-speed propeller, it will leave the ground quickly and climb at impressive rates. The rugged fixed steel landing gear (tailwheel or tri-gear) makes it possible to operate from almost any airstrip, including grass or dirt. One of the best things about flying an RV is the ability to "go where the fun is" and not be limited to big airports with paved runways. It is a fast airplane, too; able to maintain cruise speeds near or even above 200 mph depending on the engine installed. That speed, combined with the endurance and the range possible with the 42 gallon fuel capacity means that you can traverse half the American continent in a day -- more if the winds are right. The aerodynamically "slippery" airframe also means that while high top speeds are possible, more relaxed cruise speeds can be very economic. Cruising at a sedate 160 mph or so, the RV7 can achieve better mileage than many of the compact cars it is flying over. However, simply blazing through the atmosphere is not what RVs are all about. Pilots who fly them rave about the handling qualities and control harmony........qualities that are difficult to describe with numbers.
One of my co-workers has a Vans RV7. One winter afternoon he took me for an hour long ride. The takeoff roll, and subsequent climb rate, was unbelievable!! We actually almost blew through circuit altitude because it came up on us so fast. The cold air in Canada, during the winters, really improves the engine performance. We then went off and did some aerobatics. As an ex-military pilot I have been introduced to aerobatic flying so I was curious to see how the Vans Aircraft RV7 was going to perform. I was not disappointed! The RV-7A actually did the loops and rolls faster then I was used to. We then proceeded to do some low level flying, over some frozen lakes, and the visibilty that is provided by the canopy makes this a fairly easy task. I found the controlability of the RV-7A extremely responsive and it was a dream to fly. Needless to say at the end of the hour long flight I landed with the infamous "RV Grin". One of my many goals, over the next few years, is to buy and construct my very own Vans Aircraft RV-7A so that my wife and I can fly around together and also so I can take my children up for an afternoon outing with Dad. Obviously only one child at a time will be able to go because the plane is not going anywheres without me onboard :)
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