Safety Spotlight: By design

We’re proud to announce Richard “Dick” VanGrunsven, designer, builder, pilot, and founder of Van’s Aircraft, as the first recipient of the ASI General Aviation Safety Award. VanGrunsven will be honored at AOPA’s Bob Hoover Trophy Reception in Washington, D.C., on March 21.

VanGrunsven has shown a remarkable commitment to safety throughout every aspect of his involvement with aviation, which spans some 50 years. His objective in the early 1970s was to create an airplane focused on performance, maneuverability, and safety. The proliferation of RV model airplanes throughout general aviation are testament to his success, with more than 10,000 RV aircraft built. We’ve come to accept it as common, but 50 years ago, who could have imagined an aerobatic airplane, fixed-gear, stable throughout the flight envelope, cruising at close to 200 mph while sipping eight gallons an hour? VanGrunsven did, and has continued the evolution of his designs and performance.

There are some giants in the aviation industry who have left a lasting legacy. Dick VanGrunsven is one of them.RV aircraft safety performance stands out in the challenging Experimental amateur-built category, which has historically seen higher mishap rates because of the added risk factors from amateur builds. Since 2008, the number of registered RV airplanes has doubled, while the number of fatal accidents has been cut in half. More airplanes are flying and more people are around to fly and enjoy them. This kind of performance is no stroke of luck.

Van’s design features enhance flying safety through excellent visibility, pilot ergonomics, responsive and true controls, rugged cockpit structure, and relatively low takeoff and landing speed for the aircraft’s performance. His designs also permit easy inspection and access for routine maintenance, which helps ensure important maintenance checks are consistently performed.

VanGrunsven realized early on that the success of his aircraft depended on knowledgeable and well-trained builders and pilots. Van’s offers builders free technical support and supports a network of skilled Experimental amateur-built mentors who offer specific advice and techniques. Recognizing the value of type-specific flying training, VanGrunsven initiated transition training for RV pilots and provided airplanes to support and encourage more regional transition training.

VanGrunsven’s influence is broad. He led the Van’s team to work with electronic flight information systems manufacturers to provide feedback that promotes accelerated development of envelope protection systems. This collaboration includes innovations such as a canopy latching mechanism, linked to engine rpm, that provides pretakeoff voice warnings. Van’s has also championed the use of angle-of-attack indicators to minimize loss-of-control accidents—a particular concern in amateur-built aircraft, especially in early post-build checkout flights when speeds may not yet be exactly honed. Van’s Partnership for Safety agreement with the FAA to share data and promote safety is an excellent example of how industry and government can collaborate, share data, and enhance safety. As an Experimental Aircraft Association board member and member of the Founder’s Innovation Committee, he’s worked tirelessly to reduce loss-of-control mishaps in Experimental amateur-built aircraft.

There are some giants in the aviation industry who have left a lasting legacy. Dick VanGrunsven is one of them. His work stands as testament that excellence and safety go hand in hand. His tireless work to provide a superbly designed aircraft and his commitment to enhance knowledge, training, and proficiency, and create a culture around the RV community that promotes sound judgment in both the building and flying of airplanes is an achievement we are proud to recognize.

Congratulations to Dick VanGrunsven and the talented and dedicated Van’s team he’s led for close to 50 years.

Email [email protected]