Van's RV Series (Experimental) POH & manuals
An amateur-built RV has no FAA-approved POH, because nobody approved one. The builder writes the handbook, the airplane's operating limitations are issued with its airworthiness certificate, and no two RVs are identical. Other builders' handbooks are examples to learn from, not documents to fly by.
2 variants · 5 documents · all links checked live
These documents are for reference and study. Editions, serial ranges, and revision levels vary, and none of these copies carries your airplane's weight and balance or equipment list. The current POH or AFM in your aircraft governs every flight.
Handbooks by variant
Open the variant that matches your airplane's model year and serial range. If you are between two of them, read both title pages before you trust a number.
Amateur-built RVs (RV-3 through RV-14)4 docs
Your authority is the operating limitations issued with the airworthiness certificate plus whatever the builder documented during phase-one flight testing. Engine, prop, and panel choices mean published numbers from another RV rarely transfer.
- RV-8 POH written by a builder (2011)ninelima.org
A well-structured example of what a builder-written POH looks like, including flight-test-derived numbers. Applies to that airplane only.
- RV-8A owner's manual exampleninelima.org
11 MB builder-produced manual. Use it as a template for structure, not as a source of performance data.
- RV-6A POH exampleninelima.org
Word document written for one specific tail number. Handy skeleton if you are writing your own.
- Van's Aircraft builder supportvansaircraft.com
Official support channel for construction and service information. Van's supplies plans and instructions, not an approved flight manual.
RV-12iS (S-LSA and E-LSA)1 doc
The exception in the family. A factory-built S-LSA RV-12iS has a real manufacturer POH under ASTM standards, and an E-LSA built from the kit inherits that document set.
- Van's RV-12iS S-LSA informationvansaircraft.com
Official model page. The POH and maintenance manual come with the aircraft or through Van's directly rather than as a public download.
Also worth having
The FAA handbooks are public domain and free, and chapter 10 of the PHAK is the clearest explanation of what each POH section is supposed to tell you. See the FAA handbook list →
Once you have the right handbook, build the card: Van's RV Series (Experimental) checklist template →