The first RV-1 was a Stits SA-3A completed on 3 October 1965. The Playboy is a single-place, strut-braced, low-wing aircraft with conventional landing gear. The aircraft engine was upgraded from the normally-fitted 65 hp (48 kW) powerplant to a 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-290G. The resulting aircraft had good performance, but a high landing speed.^[1] On 16 August 1965, the aircraft was registered as an RV-1. Modifications included a new aluminum wing with flaps, Horner wing tips, and a bubble canopy. The fuselage uses welded steel tube construction in contrast to the RV series that followed which uses all-aluminum fuselage construction. The flaps reduced the stall speed to 50 mph (80 km/h). A second series of modifications included a streamlined cowling, wheel pants and modified horizontal tail surfaces.^[2]

The organization Friends of the RV-1 was formed to restore the prototype RV-1. It was flown across the United States and Canada in 2012 to various airshows and events. On 23 July 2012, the prototype RV-1 will be showcased at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, prior to donation to the EAA AirVenture Museum.^[3]

The Spirit of Flight Center air museum located in Erie, Colorado has an RV-1 which is airworthy. The Spirit of Flight RV-1 is displayed at the museum and at airshows and events.^{[citation needed]}

• Van's Aircraft RV-3 - The next design by VanGrunsven, based on the RV-1.

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 18 ft (5.5 m)
• Wingspan: 20 ft (6.1 m)
• Wing area: 90 sq ft (8.4 m²)
• Empty weight: 738 lb (335 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,065 lb (483 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-290G Horizontally opposed piston, 125 hp (93 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

• Stall speed: 43 kn (50 mph, 80 km/h)

• AVweb video about the RV-1
• Friends of the RV-1