Van's Aircraft RV-6

The RV-6 was the first aircraft in the popular Van's RV series to feature side-by-side seating and the first to offer a nosewheel option.

VanGrunsven worked diligently to create a side-by-side design with a generous 43-inch-wide (1,100 mm) cockpit that did not sacrifice the RV-4's handling, STOL performance and especially its high cruise speed.

Later kits had the option of a rearward sliding canopy that could more easily provide ventilation on the ground.

[3] The RV-6A version features steel rod landing gear with the nosewheel strut attached to the engine mount.

The Nigerian government's Aeronautical Industrial Engineering Project (AIEP)[4] searched for a suitable trainer that could be assembled in Nigeria using local labor and selected the RV-6A.

Three prototypes were constructed as a proof of concept using a combination of consultants (Peter Lewis from the USA and John Cook from Great Britain) and local labor, subsequently EXP-1 was the first Aircraft to have been assembled and flown in Nigeria.

An RV-6 with an elaborate paint scheme at Sun 'n Fun 2006.
A RV-6 taxiing at the Brockville Ontario fly-in June 2005. This aircraft has the earlier design forward-hinged canopy
A RV-6A – the nose wheel equipped version of the RV-6. This aircraft has the later sliding canopy.
A RV-6 instrument panel showing typical instruments and avionics found in these aircraft
Vans RV-6A takeoff
Van's RV-6A landing