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The Van's Aircraft RV-14 is an American two-seat, side-by-side kit aircraft designed by Richard VanGrunsven, developed from the four-seat RV-10 and introduced at AirVenture in July 2012. Built for amateur construction from aluminium sheet, it is a fast, roomy and aerobatic-capable sport tourer that has become a mainstay of the Van's lineup, offering large pilots comfort without sacrificing the crisp handling for which RVs are known.
The RV-14 is a low-wing, single-engine homebuilt kit aircraft from Van's Aircraft, seating two occupants side by side under a large bubble canopy. It is offered in two forms: the RV-14 with conventional tailwheel landing gear, and the RV-14A with fixed tricycle gear. Derived from the RV-10 but scaled down to two seats, it is described by the manufacturer as its most modern and refined low-wing design, combining a roomy cabin with genuine aerobatic capability, and it sits within the long-running RV family alongside types such as the RV-6, RV-7, RV-9 and RV-12.
Design work on the RV-14 began several years before its public debut, with the goal of creating an aircraft that offered the roominess of the four-seat RV-10 in a two-seat airframe. Van's Aircraft introduced the RV-14 at AirVenture in July 2012. Development priorities included improved all-round visibility, a wider cabin, low landing speeds through larger and more effective flaps, good rate of climb and glide ratio, landing gear built to meet FAR Part 23 certification standards, and an airframe specifically tailored to the Lycoming IO-390 engine. As of November 2022, 207 RV-14s had been completed and flown. In July 2020 Van's introduced an updated engine option, the Lycoming IO-390-EXP119, developed specifically for the RV-14/14A with a revised exhaust and induction system, new oil sump, aluminium induction pipes, oil pump and accessory case, saving about 10 lb of weight while raising output to 215 hp; this version was reported to be 11 mph faster in cruise and to climb 250 ft/min faster than the original 210 hp IO-390A installation. Van's also built a dedicated RV-14 for type transition training and offers this training to customers.
The RV-14 uses the typical Van's construction method: a monocoque aluminium airframe held together with rivets, built from aluminium sheet. It features a cantilever low wing using the same proprietary airfoil as the RV-10, of constant chord and constant thickness for ease of construction and predictable handling, fitted with large slotted flaps to keep landing speeds low and leading-edge fuel tanks that can be removed without removing the wing. Ailerons are actuated by rigid pushrods on bearings and bushings, giving the low-friction control feel associated with RV aircraft. The tip-forward bubble canopy, the only style offered on the RV-14 fuselage, uses a hinge arrangement that opens wide for cabin access and baggage loading and allows full access to the back of the instrument panel and avionics. A standard wiring harness handles lighting, fuel pump, flaps and trim, with plug-and-play provision for popular EFIS systems such as the Dynon SkyView, alongside a blank-panel option for custom builds. Power is provided by a Lycoming IO-390 four-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke engine, originally the 210 hp IO-390A and later also the 215 hp IO-390-EXP119 with cold-air induction, driving a two-bladed constant-speed propeller (Hartzell C2YR-1BFP/F7497-2 or C2YR-1BFP/F7497 in early production). For the RV-14A: length is 21 ft 1 in (6.43 m), wingspan 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m), height 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m), wing area 126.1 sq ft (11.72 sq m), empty weight 1,240 lb (562 kg), gross weight 2,050 lb (930 kg), fuel capacity 50 US gallons (190 L), wing loading 16.26 lb/sq ft (79.4 kg/sq m) and power loading 9.76 lb/hp. The tailwheel RV-14 has an empty weight of about 1,225 lb and a lower height of 5 ft 11.75 in due to its landing gear configuration, with power loading of 10.25 lb/hp. Baggage capacity is quoted at 100 lb. A completed, flying RV-14 kit aircraft can typically be finished for around $90,000, and building generally requires a workspace about the size of a two-car garage along with standard aircraft hand tools such as rivet guns and dimple dies.
With the 210 hp IO-390A, the RV-14A's manufacturer figures at gross weight (2,050 lb) show a top speed of 203 mph, 75 percent cruise at 8,000 ft of 193 mph, and 55 percent cruise of 169 mph, with a stall speed of 59 mph, takeoff distance of 406 ft, landing distance of 340 ft, rate of climb of 1,500 fpm and a service ceiling of 18,000-plus ft. With the uprated 215 hp IO-390-EXP119 at gross weight, top speed rises to 216 mph, 75 percent cruise to 203 mph, 55 percent cruise to 179 mph, rate of climb improves to 1,680 fpm and service ceiling extends to 23,795 ft, with range at 75 percent power quoted as 911 statute miles and at 55 percent power as 1,033 statute miles. At solo weight the EXP119-equipped RV-14A can reach 2,050 fpm climb and a 26,000 ft ceiling. Wikipedia's figures for the RV-14A give a maximum speed of 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn), cruise speed of 190 mph (310 km/h, 170 kn), stall speed of 54 mph (87 km/h, 47 kn), range of 938 mi (1,510 km, 815 nmi) and service ceiling of 18,000 ft, with aerobatic g limits of +6/-3g at a reduced aerobatic gross weight of 1,900 lb. Pilot reports describe agile handling, strong climb performance, docile stalls and short-field capability, with the option for light aerobatic manoeuvres such as loops and rolls.
Two variants are produced. The RV-14 is the two-seat version with conventional tailwheel landing gear. The RV-14A is the two-seat version with fixed tricycle landing gear, using a shock-absorbing elastomer nose gear design similar to that of the RV-10, and is described by Van's as a robust and solid platform. Both share the same wing, fuselage and powerplant options, differing chiefly in undercarriage configuration and resulting height and empty weight.
The RV-14/14A is built and flown by amateur constructors under experimental/homebuilt rules, with owner-builders typically investing between 1,000 and 3,000 labor hours to complete a kit; completing at least 51 percent of the build allows the owner to perform all subsequent maintenance. It is used primarily as a sport touring aircraft, valued for its speed, cabin comfort for larger pilots, and capability for light aerobatics. Van's Aircraft positions it as a continuation of its highly successful side-by-side two-seat line that includes the RV-6, RV-7, RV-9 and RV-12, and by November 2022, 207 examples had been completed and flown.
Pilot reports describe the RV-14/14A as offering a forgiving yet impressive flight experience, combining the low-friction, precise aileron feel for which RV aircraft are known with a wide, tall cabin that suits larger pilots far better than earlier RV designs. Strong climb performance, docile stall characteristics and short-field capability are highlighted, along with genuinely usable light aerobatic capability rather than being simply a touring aircraft with aerobatic pretensions. The type is regarded as an easier build than earlier Van's kits thanks to extensive pre-punching and pre-fitting, and reviewers note that the uprated IO-390-EXP119 engine option brings a noticeably faster cruise and improved climb over the original 210 hp installation, making it a popular choice among builders wanting a fast, comfortable, sporty two-seat touring aircraft.
