20 AVIATION FOR Girls 2016
T
he plane built as Eagle's Nest Projects across the country is a Van's Aircraft
RV-12. Van's has been producing kit aircraft for more than 40 years and is the
world leader in kit aircraft sales, with more than 9,000 aircraft flying.
The RV-12's performance makes it economical to operate and an ideal airplane for
training new pilots. It qualifies as a light-sport aircraft (LSA), making it eligible for
pilots holding at least a sport pilot certificate to fly. LSA must adhere to a strict set
of standards limiting weight and performance, and sport pilots have similar restric-
tions on the types of aircraft they can fly, number of passengers they can carry, time
of day they can fly, and airspace they can operate in.
Because the airplane is not built in a factory it is certified as an experimental light
sport aircraft (E-LSA). The word "experimental" might make it sound unsafe, but all
it means is that the major portion of the airplane was built and assembled by some-
one who undertook the construction for their own education or recreation. The air-
craft still must be inspected by the FAA and comply with aeronautical standards.
To learn more about the RV-12 visit www.VansAircraft.com. ✈
Van's Aircraft RV-12