Vans RV-15, What is the competition? An overview of the RV-15 and a look at possible competitors 

I’m glad you included the S-21, seems often overlooked

I am so glad to see this one in the experimental market. It checks almost every box for me. The Bearhawk is great, but as a Supercub pilot, I’m not into the slow cruise any longer. This is a great family aircraft IF they make it optional with rear jump seats.

I'm 63 and not giving up on my dream of aircraft ownership, but the RV appeals because of its capabilities. The go anywhere type of plane with real load capacity you want.

Bearhawk Companion, Rans S21 Outbound, Murphy Radical, Zenith STOL 750 SD come to mind for me. Though the RV15 technically might be a 4 seater, or a 2+2, it looks to me more like it will fit the "2 seat STOL with big useful load" mission profile.

I am currently building an S-21 after waiting on Van’s for many years to build a high wing. They were three years too late for me. I think the S-21 is probably the closest competitor based on what I know about the -15 thus far. The -15 will be a little bigger and heavier with more HP, but the basic configuration and mission of the two airplanes is similar: a fairly good STOL performance with cruise speeds in the 140 K range.

I'm all in with the RV-15. I expect this plane will out sell all the other RV options. I'm not a back country off airport pilot but I could be with the RV-15. I want a large cabin and room to carry a larger load. The airplane size looks like it will be easier to build and with the option of standard rivets of pull rivets. The low wing RV's are smaller, and getting into looks like having to step on the seat bottom first. I like the high wing and wide door frames of the RV-15. Now I'm retired it time to build a plane to enjoy what remaining runway I have left. My favorite airplane is still the B-737, but those days are over, and time to enjoy a slower plane and the views. Can't wait till the plane becomes available.

Most of us fly solo 90% of the time. Imagine a single seat STOL but super rugged adventure aircraft 100' take off and landing 1500' climb. Having the extra seat that is rarely used by many pilots is what costs and costs in so many ways.

Great video! I’m really glad you included Bearhawk in the list! I think, however, you should also go look at the Bearhawk model five. There’s not much data out there yet, and only a few of them have been built… But, it’s much more of a competitor Than the Bearhawk Fourplace due to its overall flight characteristics and load capability.

One unique feature of the RV15 is carrying a standard bicycle with the front wheel detached in the baggage compartment. Removing the wheel shortens the bike by roughly a foot and the front wheel of course rides next to it. So, putting the bike back together is a matter of using the large thumb screws on the axle. Removing the front wheel also allows a mechanical attachment to the RV15 similar to what you often see on automobile roof racks carrying bikes. Bolt down the front fork and bungee the rear and you are good to go. Since a bike frame is a lot harder than a sleeping bag, having jumping baggage in rough air could take on a new meaning without the bolt down feature.

I'd probably say the Rams s21 outbound is the closest. Similar engine options, both two seaters, both shorter STOL. Both all metal.

I feel like the RV-15 and S-21 are pretty close. Unless you *really* want a couple of cramped seats in the back the S-21 seems like the slightly smaller sibling of the RV-15. It goes almost as fast, carries almost as much etc. But it'll probably cost a little bit less to make and burn a little less fuel. Also, I can't believe you didn't mention the Sonex High Wing 😆

Another vote for the BearHawk 4 Place 🙂

The Aerotrek A220 is a 100 HP, side-by side taildragger that weighs 6703# empty, takes off in 250’ with my 185# frame, 20 gallons fuel and maybe 20# of stuff in the back. It climbs about 1100 FPM at sea level. On a good day I can land it in 250’ on pavement. With the tailwheel on the threshold, I can definitely takeoff before the top of the runway numbers and often land before them- with no wind. Top speed is 125mph with the Rotax 912 ULS at 5500 RPM burning about 6GPH. When I putt along with my buddies in their J3 Cubs at 65-70 MPH, I burn about 3.5 GPH. The best part is the A220 is less than $120,000 new and Rob Rollison at Aerotrek in Indiana offers amazing customer service.

Love this little aicraft.

Why didn't you include the Zenith CH-801?

BearHawk!!!

Didn't they said it was going to be a 2 seat aircraft and they "may" consider making it a 2+2 at some time in the future? Looking at it since launch just before Oshkosh, it looks like it will be a squish to get 4 seats into it and if the rear seats are rear facing, I think it will be an option that few will want. This is an issue, although to a lesser degree, that the Murphy Rebel builders face. The Rebel is technically a 2+1 but I have only ever seen 1 that had more than 2 seats and the reason the builders tell me is often insurance. Since the aircraft is flown most often with 1 person, you are paying the insurance for 4 people. Also, the 3rd seat in the Rebel is sideways which I think wouldn't be overly comfortable but at least the person can see out the windows. A reward facing seat is bound to induce airsickness in many 🤢. Regarding your comment on the Radical and Yukon, I spoke to the guys at Murphy about 6 or so months ago and they tell me the aircraft are both currently available but they are currently going over the designs to improve build-ability and make the construction easier; more factory pre drilling holes etc. Apparently, they are planning to do this with the entire line but are starting with the Radical and Yukon. Note, these are both 2+2 seaters with astonishing useful loads. The RV-15 has the advantage of being the latest to market and therefore, can look at everything else and design a product to match or exceed every category that people are looking for. For me, the biggest advantages the RV-15 seems to have, is the top end cruise speed while being approximately equal in all other categories as well as the RV history of designing aircraft with great flying qualities and reasonably easy to build. However, it will be interesting to see what the final configuration and specifications are ... when they finally lock the design down.

RV 15 is more rugged and has comparable speed but with less range. I have flown a lot of Sling's and have a few hundred hours on the RV7 only. So not sure about the others, but they are as different as can be. In the end it depends on your mission. IMHO, Sling HW when you mainly do A to B and RV 15 for hunting, fishing, camping etc and want respectable en course TAS. Also, the Sling HW will take 4 adults, full fuel and bags along for around 750nm. They are remarkabke aircraft.

Hope they offer a true 4 place

If I win the lotto I am gonna make a aviation kit company that specializes in 2 adult seater and 2 child seat bush/stol air planes. Think the size of a rans s21 but with really small seats in the back for small children 80 pounds. Seats will be made of harness cloth and be removable. I will call it the desert runner and Artic runner. Desert will have large bush wheels and focus on hot weather flying. The Artic runner will be a Alaska inspired sled or pontoon landing gear. The kit will be influenced by kitfox and rans builds. Kits will be builder friendly and have the kit be at minimal cost by assembling some parts in mexico where labor is cheaper but quality is good. I want a kit for the average dad that wants to take his wife and little kid out for a flight. Ill have bush pilots and engineers meet and have most of the avavation community help out with input. I'll pay a celebrity to help endose the company and make tic toc video and make it cool to the younger generation while getting credibility from the older community with fly in and shows. What do you think?

Small request. Can you equalize your audio? Your voice overs are much higher than the rest.

Homebuilt super 170.

Looks like Murphy Rebel

Wait one minute ... side by side Vs. Tandem is not that big a hurtle ... you need to get a grip on what the mission of each A/C is and what compromise is necessary to make that dream come true.

Dude is stroking Vans so hard right now. LOL. "I wouldn't say any of them are the equal of the RV-15" Oof. Overzealous on a brand new aircraft design, not yet proven. It's like a startup talking about projected income. But still, thanks for the video. I would say Bearhawk Companion is sounding closer if RV-15 is a side by side 2 place.

Zenith 750 SD is the biggest competitor

1500 feet is STOL? I don't consider 500 feet to be STOL. 100 meters or 300 feet is a reasonable limit to be considered STOL in my opinion. While we can't tell for sure yet, the Rans S-21 Outbound looks better in virtually every way than the Vans RV-15. The S-21 with Rotax 916iS engine looks great. Frankly, calling the RV-15 or the S-21 a 4-seat airplane is *very much* stretching the truth in practice.

Sling

X-Cub?

Bearhawk 4 or 5 is a far better deal than the RV-15 in my opinion.

Murphy Radical is easily the closest .... Im amazed how airplane people on here in general are quite clueless as to what actually need to be compared .. and these are essentially the absolute critical items that determine STOL .. Automotive writers always do the numbers but aircraft writers and media types seem to never do them or understand them ... What tells the tale of STOL is wing loading .. lbs per sq ft .. flap size and type ( dont just say they have flaps get your freekin tape measure out and give us the numbers ) and power to weight ratio , HP per lb of aircraft .. Also is it too much trouble to say the suspension needs REBOUND DAMPENING SHOCKS .. do you understand what that means !!!! both on the mains and on the tail .. Then does it have the proper size brakes to lock up 31" wheels ..... Those are the critical items and you never gave the numbers ... Do you understand without these numbers its meaningless to compare ... The sling is as far from a bush plane as a beech bonanza ... It has no suspension , no wing to speak of ( far to heavy wing loading ) so it is pretty much useless as a bush plane ..... I have no idea why you do these when you have no idea whatsoever what to compare ..... Its the numbers !!!! compare the freekin numbers to begin with ..... Car people laugh at how technically inept airplane people generally are .... Numbers is what tells the tale ..... No one yet has given the sq ft of the Vans wing because they never thought to take a tape measure to the show or use the measuring app on your I phone ... Not once did you mention wing area , empty weight and lbs per HP .... In other words you compared nothing and filled space

no new real data on the RV-15, and at the price expected to be around $225-300k How many people can truly afford to build one? the problem with GA Aircraft is that they are pricing the Aircraft too high for the Normal Human to afford, I mean C-172;s selling for 100k and 50 year old instruments and sold new for around 16k. I have been in Aviation most of my life and the reason GA is struggling is the Price points to become an owner. Aluminum is not that expensive for the price point.