Aircraft overview

The Vans RV-8 / RV-8A is a two-seat, tandem sport aircraft from Van's Aircraft, supplied as a kit for amateur construction. The RV-8 prototype first flew in 1995, with kit production beginning in the mid 1990s. It was developed as the tandem-seat successor to the RV-4, offering more cockpit space, higher allowable weights and improved baggage capacity. The RV-8 uses conventional landing gear, while the RV-8A uses tricycle landing gear. Both are valued in the used market for cross-country speed, aerobatic capability and a large builder and owner community.

Performance & specifications

Performance varies with engine, propeller, build quality and equipment, but typical RV-8 / RV-8A examples cruise in the 160 to 185 knot range. Common powerplants are Lycoming O-360, IO-360 and related four-cylinder engines, generally in the 180 to 200 hp class, although some aircraft use lower or higher output installations. Published Van's Aircraft figures include a maximum gross weight of 1,800 lb and aerobatic gross weight of 1,600 lb. Range is commonly around 650 to 800 nautical miles with standard fuel and cruise power settings. Service ceiling is typically quoted at about 22,000 feet, depending on engine and configuration.

Cabin & avionics

The RV-8 / RV-8A has tandem seating under a sliding canopy, with the pilot normally seated in front and the passenger behind. The layout gives good forward visibility from the front cockpit and a fighter-style feel compared with side-by-side RV models. Baggage areas are located forward and aft, subject to weight and balance limits. Because each aircraft is individually built, avionics vary widely. Used examples may have basic analog panels, Garmin G3X Touch, Dynon SkyView, Advanced Flight Systems displays, Garmin GTN navigators, autopilots, ADS-B equipment and modern engine monitoring. Garmin Perspective and G1000 installations are not typical for this model.

Buying & value

As an experimental amateur-built aircraft, condition and build quality matter as much as model year. Buyers should review builder documentation, logbooks, weight and balance data, engine history, propeller type, fuel system details, control rigging, landing gear condition and any aerobatic use. The main variant choice is RV-8 tailwheel versus RV-8A nosewheel, with additional value influenced by engine choice, constant-speed propeller, paint, interior and avionics. Current PlaneFox listing data shows an average asking price of about EUR 117,000, with examples ranging from roughly EUR 43,000 to EUR 186,000. Lower-priced aircraft often reflect older panels, higher-time engines or cosmetic needs, while higher-priced aircraft usually combine modern avionics, strong engine time status and high-quality finishing.