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)

[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).

[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.

[Anders]

Wow. Just, wow. Thank you all for the info. I suspected the Vans RVs would be up there, but wasn't aware just how popular they were. And rv builder has a point. That 172 count covers all the various models, 172A-S.

Also, thank you for the PDF regarding the homebuilt fleet size, Ron. That's awesome!

[Marc Zeitlin]

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

Ron Wanttaja

Ron - I didn't see "COZY"'s of any type listed - I know there are (as of the last time I checked) somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 registered COZY's (if not more). What happened to them?

[rwanttaja]

Ron - I didn't see "COZY"'s of any type listed - I know there are (as of the last time I checked) somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 registered COZY's (if not more). What happened to them?

Just didn't think of them. I used this for a filter:

Like "*Cozy*" Or Like "*Co-z*" Or Like "*Co z*" Or Like "*puffer*"

...and got 188 examples. To make up for skipping them, I've added a list of the registered aircraft.

I also found another 55 in the Deregistered Aircraft list.

Ron Wanttaja