The RV-3 started out as an attempt to maintain the Playboy's layout and concept but to improve it in every regard.

The RV-3 was also designed from the start for serious travel and as such carries 30 US gallons of fuel, giving it a range of about 600 statute miles.

[3][5][6] The very first RV-3 built by VanGrunsven won "Best Aerodynamic Detailing" at the 1972 EAA Oshkosh Convention.

An RV-3A is an early RV-3 that has undergone rear spar and wing root upgrades as described in Van's publication CN-1.

Continued customer demand for the single seat design resulted in VanGrunsven engineering a new wing for the RV-3.