This is a website documenting the construction of my first and not last homebuilt airplane. I’ll be building an RV-3 from Vans 
Aircraft. If you’re not an aviation enthusiast and you don’t know what an RV-3 is,
then before you read any farther you need to check out www.vansaircraft.com. So it’s a single seat sport aerobatic
plane with a top speed of 207mph. It’s primarily constructed of aluminum and held together with about 13,000 rivets. I estimate this plane will take about 2000 man-hours
and 55 large to build. I’m sure it will be the most challenging and rewarding project I’ve ever worked on. So check back often to keep up to date on how it’s coming!
My name is Rob Holmes, Email me at rph142@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.
Current Status: Have you ever push mowed your lawn after a 6 week spring vacation, or rode in a boat that was trying to pull a 300lb water skier? Well for the past 5 months I have felt like those machines. My wife and I bought a house that requres some "TLC". Fortunately we are nearing the finish line and we are still married. This of course means it is almost time get back to building my plane, which now has a 280 smoh IO-320X!! Pics coming soon...
| Exterior Dimentions | Speeds | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Span | 19 ft 11 in | Top Speed | 207 mph |
| Length | 19 ft | Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft] | 196 mph |
| Height | 5 ft | Cruise [50% @ 8000 ft] | 176 mph |
| Wing Area | 90 sq. ft | Stall Speed | 51 mph |
| Weights | Ground Performance | ||
| Empty Weight | 750 lbs | Takeoff Distance | 300 ft |
| Gross Weight | 1100 lbs | Landing Distance | 350 ft |
| Baggage | 30 lbs | Climb/Ceiling | |
| Powerplant | Rate of Climb | 2,050 ft | |
| Engine | 160 hp | Ceiling | 23,500 ft |
| Propeller | 68 x 76 Catto 2 Blade | Range | |
| Fuel Capacity | 30 US gal | Range [75% @ 8000 ft] | 595 sm |
| Technical Data | Range [75% @ 8000 ft] | 715 sm | |
| Short Period f | 6 rad/sec | ||
| Phugoid f | 40 sec/period | ||
| Dutch Roll f | 4 rad/sec | ||
| Spiral Mode | Neutral | ||
| Max Roll Rate | 170 deg/sec | ||
| Stick Force Per G | 12-14 lbs | ||
| Stick Force @ Max Aileron | 40 lbs | ||