If you’re in the market for a Vans RV8, you’re probably already familiar with the company’s impressive history. For 50 years, Vans has been producing an extensive catalog of kit planes, including one, two, and four-seat planes for a variety of purposes. The RV8 is one of the company’s two-seat tandem planes, and it’s a standout in many ways.

The RV8 is the fastest Vans plane, and it’s considerably larger than the RV4. The passenger seating position behind the pilot gives it an edge over other Vans models, and the company claims that it will fit pilots as tall as 6’10”. With two baggage compartments, the RV8 is a great option for those who want to carry a lot of gear. Keep reading to learn more about the RV8’s features, costs, and design philosophy.

Key Takeaways

  • The Vans RV8 is one of the company’s two-seat tandem planes and is the fastest Vans plane.
  • The RV8 is considerably larger than the RV4 and has a passenger seating position behind the pilot.
  • Vans designs planes to be good in all areas rather than the best in any one area.

History of Vans Aircraft

If you’re considering purchasing a Vans RV8, you may already be familiar with Vans Aircraft. Vans has been around for 50 years, growing alongside the kit planes industry, particularly Kip Lanes. Over the years, Vans has developed a diverse catalog of kit planes, including one, two, and four-seat planes, side by side, tandem, aerobatic, cross-country, light sport, and now high wing backcountry planes.

The RV8 is one of Vans’ two-seat tandem planes, along with the RV4. However, the RV8 is considerably larger and faster. Despite a very similar design, wings, gear, and even the same engine as many other Vans models, the RV8’s reduction in drag by placing the passenger behind the pilot gives it an edge over the others. Vans claims the RV8 can accommodate pilots up to 6’10”, and the plane has a useful load of 450 pounds, with two baggage compartments.

The RV8 is available for purchase as a completed plane, with a cost similar to the RV7 and RV9, or as a kit to build yourself, which costs about the same as buying one completed. Building the plane yourself can save you a lot of money, especially if you opt for a smaller or used engine. The RV8’s engine options range from 150 to 215 horsepower, with the 180 horsepower O360 being the most common.

Maintaining the RV8 is similar in cost to the RV7 and RV9, with Lycoming O360 overhauls costing around $26,000 and having a 2000 hour TBO. Tail wheel is an option for the RV8, but if you choose that option, insurance will be slightly more expensive.

Vans designs their planes to be good in all areas rather than the best in any one area, except for their category of selling airplane kits, where they are number one. Each individual model leans a little bit in one area, and the RV8 is the fastest, accommodating large pilots and featuring a centerline seating position for that fighter plane feel. And often, the RV8 has a paint job to match.

Vans Aircraft Catalogue

If you’re in the market for a Vans RV8, you’ll be pleased to know that Vans Aircraft has been in the kit plane industry for 50 years. The Vans kit plane catalog is quite diverse, featuring one, two, and four-seat planes, side by side, tandem, aerobatic, cross-country, light sport, and now high wing backcountry planes.

The RV8 is one of the two-seat tandem planes by Vans, with the other being the RV4. The RV8 is considerably larger and faster than the RV4. Even though it has a very similar design, similar wings, and gear, and even the same engine as many other Vans models, the reduction in drag enjoyed by getting the passenger behind the pilot gives it an edge over the others.

Vans claims that the RV8 will fit pilots as tall as 6’10”. The RV8 also has two baggage compartments, one behind the rear passenger and one in the nose. If you’re looking to buy a completed RV8, it will cost you about the same as an RV7 or RV9. However, building one yourself will save you a lot of money, especially if you opt for a smaller or used engine. RV8 engine options range from 150 to 215 horsepower, with the 180 horsepower O360 being the most common.

The RV8 is a well-rounded plane, designed to be really good in all areas rather than the best in any one area. It leans a little bit towards speed, making it the fastest Vans plane. It can carry a bunch of stuff, is good at cross-country, and can even do aerobatics. The RV8 also accommodates some very large pilots and has a centerline seating position for that fighter plane sort of feel.

Overall, the RV8 is a great choice if you’re looking for a two-seat tandem plane that is fast, spacious, and well-rounded.

Comparison of Rv8 and Rv4

If you’re considering purchasing a Vans aircraft, you may be wondering about the differences between the Rv8 and Rv4 models. While both are two-seat tandem planes, the Rv8 is considerably larger and faster than the Rv4. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:

Size and Speed

The Rv8 is the fastest Vans plane, thanks to its design and the fact that the passenger sits behind the pilot, reducing drag. It also has a larger size than the Rv4, making it a more spacious and comfortable option. The Rv8 can accommodate pilots as tall as 6’10”, and has two baggage compartments for added storage.

Engine Options

The Rv8 has a range of engine options, with horsepower ranging from 150 to 215. The most common engine is the Lycoming O-360, which has 180 horsepower. The cost of maintaining the Rv8 is similar to that of the Rv7 and Rv9 models.

Cost

Buying a completed Rv8 costs about the same as buying an Rv7 or Rv9, while building one costs about the same as buying a completed one. Building your own Rv8 can save you money, especially if you opt for a smaller or used engine.

Tail Wheel and Insurance

The Rv8 offers a tail wheel option, which can make it a more exciting and challenging flying experience. However, opting for a tail wheel may increase your insurance costs.

Overall, the Rv8 is a well-rounded aircraft that excels in many areas. If you’re looking for a fast, spacious, and versatile plane, the Rv8 is definitely worth considering.

Features of RV8

If you’re looking for a two-seat tandem plane, the RV8 is one of the options you might consider. It’s considerably larger than the RV4 and is the fastest plane in Van’s catalog. Even though it has a similar design to other Van’s models, the RV8 has an edge over the others because of the reduction in drag achieved by having the passenger behind the pilot. According to Van’s, the RV8 can fit pilots as tall as 6’10”.

The RV8 has two baggage compartments, one behind the rear passenger and another in the nose. If you’re considering buying a completed RV8, the cost is similar to an RV7 or RV9. Building an RV8 costs about the same as buying a completed one, but you can save money if you go for a smaller or used engine. The RV8’s engine options range from 150 to 215 horsepower, with the most common being a 180 horsepower O360.

In terms of cost, the RV8 is similar to the RV7 and RV9. If you opt for the tail wheel, insurance will be a little more expensive. The Lycoming O360 overhauls cost around $26,000 and have a 2000 hour TBO.

Overall, Van’s goal when designing planes is to make them really good in all areas rather than the best in any one area. Each individual model leans a little bit in one area, and the RV8 is the fastest. It accommodates some very large pilots and has a center-line seating position for that fighter plane sort of feel. Often, it has a paint job to match.

Cost of RV8

If you’re considering purchasing a Vans RV8, you may be wondering about the cost. The RV8 is one of the two two-seat tandem planes offered by Vans, and it’s considerably larger than the RV4.

Buying a completed RV8 will cost you about the same as an RV7 or RV9. If you’re considering building one yourself, the cost will be similar to buying a completed one. You can save money by going for a smaller or used engine. The RV8 offers engine options ranging from 150 to 215 horsepower, with a 180 horsepower O360 being the most common.

When it comes to keeping your RV8 flying, the cost will be similar to the RV7 and RV9. The Lycoming O360 overhaul costs about $26,000 and has a 2000 hour TBO. Tail wheel is an option for the RV8, but if you choose it, insurance will be slightly more expensive.

The RV8 has two baggage compartments, one behind the rear passenger and one in the nose. When the tanks are filled, there’s a useful load of 450 pounds. Vance claims that the RV8 can fit pilots as tall as 6’10”, thanks to the passenger being situated behind the pilot.

Overall, the RV8 is designed to be a well-rounded plane, excelling in all areas rather than being the best in any one area. It’s the fastest Vans plane and can accommodate larger pilots while also offering a fighter plane-like center line seating position.

Engine Options for RV8

If you’re considering purchasing a Vans RV8, you’ll have a variety of engine options to choose from. The RV8 is one of the two two-seat tandem planes offered by Vans, with the other being the RV4. However, the RV8 is considerably larger and faster than the RV4, making it a popular choice among pilots.

The RV8’s engine options range from 150 to 215 horsepower, with the most common being the 180 horsepower O360. The price you’ll pay to keep your RV8 flying will be similar to that of the RV7 and RV9, as they’re all basically the same airplane from a cost perspective.

If you decide to go for the tail wheel option, insurance will be slightly higher. Additionally, Lycoming O360 overhauls cost around $26,000 and have a 2000 hour TBO.

Overall, Vans’ goal with the RV8 was to create an aircraft that excels in all areas rather than being the best in any one area. The RV8 is the fastest of Vans’ planes and can accommodate pilots as tall as 6’10”. It also has a centerline seating position for a fighter plane-like feel and often boasts a matching paint job.

Whether you choose to buy a completed RV8 or build one yourself, you’ll have a range of engine options to choose from. Building your own RV8 can save you a lot of money, especially if you opt for a smaller or used engine.

Maintenance Cost

Maintaining a Vans RV8 is comparable to maintaining other Vans aircraft models like the RV7 and RV9. The Lycoming O360 engine, which is the most common engine for the RV8, has a 2000 hour TBO and overhaul costs around $26,000. The cost of maintaining the RV8 will increase slightly if you opt for the tail wheel option.

While building an RV8 can save you money, buying a completed RV8 costs about the same as buying a completed RV7 or RV9. The RV8 has a useful load of 450 pounds and two baggage compartments, one behind the rear passenger and another in the nose.

Overall, Vans aircraft designs their planes to excel in all areas rather than being the best in a single area. The RV8 is the fastest Vans aircraft and can accommodate pilots up to 6’10” in height. Its centerline seating position provides a fighter plane feel, and it is often painted to match.

Tail Wheel Option

The tail wheel is an optional feature for the Van’s RV8, which can increase insurance costs. The RV8 is one of the two two-seat tandem planes made by Van’s Aircraft, the other being the RV4. The RV8 is larger than the RV4 and is the fastest plane in Van’s catalog. It has a similar design to other Van’s models, such as similar wings and landing gear, and uses the same engine as many other models. However, the RV8 has an edge over other models due to the reduction in drag achieved by placing the passenger behind the pilot. This feature also makes the RV8 more comfortable for larger pilots, as it can accommodate pilots as tall as 6’10”.

The RV8 has a useful load of 450 pounds, and it has two baggage compartments, one behind the rear passenger and one in the nose. The cost of buying a completed RV8 is similar to the cost of an RV7 or RV9, while building one costs about the same as buying a completed one. You can save a lot of money building an RV8, especially if you opt for a smaller or used engine. RV8 engine options range from 150 to 215 horsepower, with a 180 horsepower O360 being the most common.

Van’s Aircraft designs their planes to be good in all areas, rather than the best in any one area. The RV8 is no exception, as it can go pretty fast, carry a bunch of stuff, and is good for cross-country flights. Each individual model leans a little bit in one area, and the RV8’s area of expertise is speed. Its centerline seating position also gives it a fighter plane sort of feel, which is complemented by its often flashy paint jobs.

Design Philosophy of Vans

When designing their planes, Vans Aircraft aims to create aircraft that excel in all areas rather than just one. The RV8, one of their two-seat tandem planes, is considerably larger than the RV4 and is the fastest Vans plane due to its design and placement of the passenger behind the pilot. This placement provides a reduction in drag, giving the RV8 an edge over other Vans models. Vans claims that the RV8 can fit pilots as tall as 6’10”, making it a comfortable option for a wide range of pilots.

The RV8 has a useful load of 450 pounds and features two baggage compartments, one behind the rear passenger and one in the nose. Buying a completed RV8 costs about the same as an RV7 or RV9, while building one costs about the same as buying a completed one. Building a smaller or used engine can save money, as engine options range from 150 to 215 horsepower, with the most common being the 180 horsepower O360.

Maintaining an RV8 is similar in cost to maintaining an RV7 or RV9. Tail wheel is an option for the RV8, but it may increase insurance costs. The Lycoming O360 has a 2000 hour TBO and overhauls cost around $26,000.

Overall, the RV8 is a versatile plane that performs well in all areas. Its center-line seating position provides a fighter plane feel, and it often features a matching paint job.

Conclusion

If you are considering purchasing a Vans RV8, you can rest assured that you will be investing in a high-quality aircraft with a diverse catalog of options. The RV8 is one of the fastest Vans planes and has the advantage of fitting pilots as tall as 6’10”. With two baggage compartments and a useful load of 450 pounds, the RV8 is a great option for cross-country flights and carrying a lot of stuff.

Building an RV8 costs about the same as buying one completed, and you can save money by opting for a smaller or used engine. The Lycoming O360 is the most common engine option, and maintenance costs are similar to those of the RV7 and RV9.

Overall, the RV8 is designed to be a well-rounded aircraft that excels in all areas rather than being the best in any one area. With its Center Line seating position and fighter plane paint job, the RV8 offers a unique and exciting flying experience. Whether you’re looking for a fast cross-country plane or a plane that can do aerobatics, the RV8 is a great option to consider.

My name is Sean Walsh, and I'm the founder and writer of this website. For as far back as I can remember, I've always been interested in flying. A few years ago, I passed my check ride and got my PPL certificate! I'm now a private pilot with over 500 hours of flying time. Read more about me here.