Van’s Aircraft Delivers First RV-15 Kits
- Garth Calitz
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Garth Calitz
While much of the general aviation industry was winding down for the festive season, the atmosphere at Van’s Aircraft’s Aurora, Oregon headquarters remained electric. In a moment that will likely be recorded as a pivot point in the company’s storied history, the team marked two days before Christmas not with a holiday party, but with a milestone: the official commencement of customer deliveries for the highly anticipated RV-15.
On the afternoon of 23 December, two meticulously packed crates, containing the first customer RV-15 wing kits, were rolled out of the factory. For a program that has been the subject of intense speculation and excitement since its initial announcement, the delivery represented a transition from the realm of prototypes and flight testing into the hands of the building community.
The first name on the manifest was a familiar one in the world of high-performance aviation. Kevin Eldredge, a renowned Reno air racer, secured his place in the history books by placing the very first deposit for an RV-15 wing kit at EAA AirVenture 2025. Eldredge arrived in person to collect his kit, officially becoming the first customer worldwide to take delivery of an RV-15 component.
In a gesture of camaraderie that defines the "RV community," the second kit, originally destined for Eldredge’s wife, was reassigned to fellow builder Spanky Melton. Together, Eldredge and Melton represent the vanguard of a new generation of Van’s builders, pivoting from the traditional low-wing speedsters that made the company famous toward the rugged utility of the RV-15.
The handover was far from a sterile transaction. Eldredge and his team were treated to an extensive tour of the production line, providing a rare look at the quality control measures Van’s has refined over the past year. The visit culminated in a meeting with the leadership team, including CEO Mikael Via and the legendary founder himself, Richard "Van" VanGrunsven. The interaction served as a bridge between the company’s fifty-year legacy and its high-wing future.
Beyond the aluminium skins and spars, these first deliveries also showcased Van’s commitment to evolving the builder experience. Eldredge was among the first to inspect the new "RV Tackle Box" hardware management system, a significant departure from the "bags-within-bags" method familiar to legacy RV builders.
The RV Tackle Box organises thousands of rivets, bolts, and small components into segmented, stackable plastic containers. Each box is accompanied by a photographic "placemat" guide. These guides don’t just list part numbers; they include actual photos of the components and QR codes that link directly to Van’s webstore, allowing builders to order replacements or extras with a single scan. It is a clear signal that Van’s is prioritising "builder success" and reducing the friction that often stalls homebuilt projects.
Before the crates were loaded, the factory floor became quiet for a short ceremony. In a tradition reserved for the company's most important milestones, Van's employees assembled to sign the lid of the first RV-15 wing crate. This collective signature acted as a "stamp of approval" from the workforce responsible for bringing the design to fruition.
With the signatures dry and the crates sealed, Eldredge loaded the kits onto a flat-bed trailer for the trek to Spokane, Washington. His goal is ambitious: construction is slated to begin almost immediately, meaning the first customer-built RV-15 wings will likely be under assembly before the first week of January concludes.
Van’s has confirmed that while these were the first, they certainly won't be the last for long. Wing kit production is scheduled to ramp up significantly throughout January to meet a backlog of orders that has reportedly exceeded the company’s internal projections.
However, the journey to a complete airframe still faces the hurdles of winter testing. While wing kits are flowing, Van’s noted that unpredictable Pacific Northwest weather has slightly hampered the final flight test phase for the RV-15’s horizontal tail. Consequently, the sale of tail kits has been shifted to the end of January, with deliveries expected to commence in late March. In a move to support the early adopters, builders who have already taken delivery of wing kits will be given priority slots for the tail sections.
For South Africans who have placed orders, the delivery of these kits is more than just an update. It is proof of life for a design that promises to bring "Total Performance" to the country. As Kevin Eldredge’s trailer disappeared into the Oregon mist, it carried more than just aluminium and rivets; it carried the start of a new chapter for homebuilt aviation.
