VAN'S RV-7
About 70% of our customers prefer side by side seating and the RV-7/7A has a roomy cockpit that will easily accept two 6’ + adults with sufficient leg, head and elbow room to stay comfortable for three to four hours at a time. 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 RV-7/7A 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 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 RV-7/7A complies with the +6/-3G standards of the FAA’s 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.
Both sliding and tip-up canopies are available. Both may be opened for taxi ventilation, and both afford that other RV hallmark – superb visibility.
All RVs are capable of very short take-offs and landings and the RV-7/7A 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’s 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 RV-7 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.
Thousands of RV-7/7A kits have shipped to countries all over the world. If you prefer sitting next to your flying partner while you both enjoy one of the nicest-flying airplanes ever…well, you’ll like the RV-7/7A.
RV–7A Specifications
Exterior Dimensions | |
Span | 25 ft |
Length | 20 ft 4 in. |
Height | 7 ft 10 in. |
Wing Area | 121 sq ft |
Weights | |
Empty Weight | 1077 - 1130 lbs |
Gross Weight | 1800 lbs |
Loadings | |
Wing Loading | 14.8 lb/sq ft |
Power Loading | 12.0 - 9.0 lb/hp |
Powerplant/Systems | |
Engine | 150-200 hp |
Propeller | Fixed or C/S |
Fuel Capacity | 42 US gal |
Other | |
Baggage | 100 lbs |
RV–7A Performance
Solo Weight 1400 lbs Gross Weight 1800 lbs |
160 hp | 180 hp | 200 hp |
Speeds and ranges in statute mph (sm) Empty weight and performance measured with Hartzell 2 Blade C/S prop | |||
Speed - Solo Weight | |||
Top Speed | 200 mph | 208 mph | 215 mph |
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft] | 190 mph | 198 mph | 205 mph |
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft] | 171 mph | 178 mph | 185 mph |
Stall Speed | 51 mph | 51 mph | 51 mph |
Speed - Gross Weight | |||
Top Speed | 199 mph | 207 mph | 213 mph |
Cruise [75% @ 8000 ft] | 189 mph | 197 mph | 204 mph |
Cruise [55% @ 8000 ft] | 170 mph | 177 mph | 183 mph |
Stall Speed | 58 mph | 58 mph | 58 mph |
Ground Performance - Solo Weight | |||
Takeoff Distance | 300 ft | 275 ft | 250 ft |
Landing Distance | 350 ft | 350 ft | 350 ft |
Ground Performance - Gross Weight | |||
Takeoff Distance | 650 ft | 575 ft | 500 ft |
Landing Distance | 500 ft | 500 ft | 500 ft |
Climb/Ceiling - Solo Weight | |||
Rate of Climb | 1,800 fpm | 2,100 fpm | 2,450 fpm |
Ceiling | 20,000 ft | 22,000 ft | 24,500 ft |
Climb/Ceiling - Gross Weight | |||
Rate of Climb | 1,350 fpm | 1,600 fpm | 1,850 fpm |
Ceiling | 17,500 ft | 19,500 ft | 21,500 ft |
Range | |||
Range [75% @ 8000 ft] | 825 sm | 765 sm | 755 sm |
Range [55% @ 8000 ft] | 1015 sm | 940 sm | 925 sm |