The most popular homebuilt or kit plane

[Anders]

I recently spent some time putting together a sort of profile on the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, which tops the list of the most produced aircraft of all time. But as I was reading back through the list of the most produced aircraft, I noticed that there aren't any homebuilt or kit planes on the list. Now, that list says you only need to have 5,000 aircraft of a certain type built to be added. I expect at least a few homebuilt/kit planes would make the list. But maybe they are limiting it to factory manufactured planes as well.

So, a couple of questions to the more knowledgeable folks on the EAA forums:

1 - What is the most popular / most produced homebuilt/kit plane?

2 - Is there a list somewhere, or some stats on what experimental aircraft are the most produced/popular?

[rv8bldr]

I suspect that the various models of Van's Aircraft RV series are the most popular and produced homebuilts (confession: I built and fly an RV-8).

From the Van's Aircraft website this morning:

As of January 6, 2015 8,923 RV aircraft have been completed and flown!

Listed by Model
RV-3	281
RV-4	1372
RV-6/6A	2540
RV-7/7A	1400
RV-8/8A	1277
RV-9/9A	947
RV-10	744
RV-12	361
RV-14/14A	1

[Floatsflyer]

In the absence of a list with verifiable numbers and no single Manufacturers Association to put them out, I'm submitting a subjective/objective list of most popular which might equate to most produced.

I agree that Vans is number 1 and when you add in number sold(not just completed/flown) is by far the runaway winner.

In no particular order:

Quickie
Long-Ez
Cozy
Flightstar
Kolb
Aircamper
Bowers
Quicksilver
Rans
Europa
Kitfox
Searey
Avid
Murphy
Quad City Challenger
Stoddard-Hamilton/Glasair
Zenith
Emeraude(France)
Wittman Tailwind
Beaver/Chinook
CGS Hawk
Volksplane
Fisher
Corben Aces
Mini-Max
Titan
Rotorway(Heli)

[Floatsflyer]

In the absence of a list with verifiable numbers and no single Manufacturers Association to put them out...

Well, I stand corrected. I just found out there is an industry association- the Aircraft Kit Industry Association(AKIA), not to be confused with IKEA. It was formed in July, 2012 at Oshkosh. To date it has 26 US based members, 18 of which are kit manufacturers. They must perform their activities in a clandestine manner and/or not send out press releases to the general aviation press because I and those who contributed to this thread have never heard of them.

Their website does not contain any stats or direct contact info. The OP can likely contact one of the BOD's directly or thru EAA and ask if they will at some point begin to gather and publish stats like GAMA and LAMA.

http://www.akia.aero/

[ssmdive]

I think you are going to find the issue is the different types. As someone pointed out, Vans has a lot of aircraft flying. And your list needed 5K to be included...The RV6 is closest with ~2500. Quad City Challenger claims 4,000, but that includes many different models as well. So between all the various models of Vans and say Challengers, you are going to have a hard time getting to 5K. Then when you look at upgraded planes 'killing' off the older models. I mean how many people are going to build an RV4 when they can build the 8? How many people are going to build a 3 now?

[rv builder]

But that list doesn't count different models of 172 differently...from the original 172, through 172S, retract, turbo, etc. With the exception of the LSA RV, one could argue they should be counted together (or even two-seaters all together vs RV-3 and RV-10).

[ssmdive]

But that list doesn't count different models of 172 differently...from the original 172, through 172S, retract, turbo, etc. With the exception of the LSA RV, one could argue they should be counted together (or even two-seaters all together vs RV-3 and RV-10).

Well, its wikipedia. Add them.

[rwanttaja]

But that list doesn't count different models of 172 differently...

Here's the 2 January 2015 registrations of Cessna 172 models:

172: 2033
172A: 493
172B: 466
172C: 412
172D: 530
172E: 685
172F: 824
172G: 801
172H: 873
172I: 382
172K: 1154
172L: 937
172M: 3954
172N: 3520
172P: 1266
172Q : 16
172R: 744
172RG: 587
172S: 2012
P172D: 32
R172E: 107
R172G: 6
R172J: 1
R172K: 678

Ron Wanttaja

[rwanttaja]

I recently spent some time putting together a sort of profile on the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, which tops the list of the most produced aircraft of all time. But as I was reading back through the list of the most produced aircraft, I noticed that there aren't any homebuilt or kit planes on the list. Now, that list says you only need to have 5,000 aircraft of a certain type built to be added. I expect at least a few homebuilt/kit planes would make the list. But maybe they are limiting it to factory manufactured planes as well.

So, a couple of questions to the more knowledgeable folks on the EAA forums:

1 - What is the most popular / most produced homebuilt/kit plane?

2 - Is there a list somewhere, or some stats on what experimental aircraft are the most produced/popular?

Well, you're in luck. I just downloaded the most recent FAA registration database and ran it against my filters.

Ron Wanttaja

[Jim Clark]

Well, you're in luck. I just downloaded the most recent FAA registration database and ran it against my filters.

Ron Wanttaja

Very nicely done, thanks for the info.