Vans RV-9 Aircraft
4 used Vans RV-9 aircraft for sale · 1-seat · $140K – $198K · updated 1 hour ago
About the Vans RV-9
The Vans RV-9 is a two-seat, single-engine experimental aircraft with conventional tailwheel landing gear, designed by Vans Aircraft as a stable and efficient cross-country touring airplane. Like its nosewheel sibling the RV-9A, the RV-9 emphasizes comfort, stability, and fuel economy over aerobatic capability, making it ideal for pilots who want to build and fly a practical traveling machine.
Burning approximately 6 gallons per hour, the RV-9 offers some of the lowest operating costs of any two-seat aircraft, with variable hourly costs averaging just $85 and annual fixed costs near $10,000. The side-by-side seating arrangement and generous cockpit dimensions provide a comfortable environment for long cross-country flights, and the tailwheel configuration appeals to pilots who prefer conventional gear handling.
The RV-9 appeals to experienced tailwheel pilots who want to build a kit aircraft optimized for efficient touring rather than aerobatics. The tailwheel version offers slightly lighter weight and a more traditional flying feel compared to the RV-9A. With thousands of RV-series aircraft flying worldwide, builders benefit from an enormous community of experienced builders, detailed construction guides, and regular fly-in events that celebrate the kit-built aviation culture.
Vans RV-9 Specifications
Model specThe Vans RV-9 is a 1-seat experimental with a cruise speed of 2 kt (4 km/h).
4 Vans RV-9 For Sale
There are currently 4 used Vans RV-9 for sale, ranging from $140,882 to $198,500, with a median asking price of $162,500.
Vans RV-9 Variants
Compare Vans RV-9
See how the Vans RV-9 stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.
Vans RV-9 Price & Cost
How much does a Vans RV-9 cost? Used RV-9 prices: $140K – $198K, average $166K (median $162K), across 4 priced of 4 active listings.
Key price factors: engine time to overhaul, year and airframe hours, avionics, damage history and logbook completeness — see the buying guide below for the full pre-purchase checklist.
Buying a Used Vans RV-9
Every Vans RV-9 faces a mandatory 2,000-hour overhaul, so the single biggest factor in used price is how much time remains before that overhaul is due — a fresh-overhaul airframe can be worth a large share of the $20,000 overhaul cost more than one approaching its limit.
What to check before buying
- Time to overhaul — hours and years remaining to the 2,000-hour limit; this dominates resale value more than total time.
- Logbook completeness — continuous, gap-free maintenance records; missing logs cut value and complicate financing.
- Damage history — any prior accident, hard landing or blade strike; cross-check the registration against accident databases.
- Avionics — a glass panel vs steam gauges materially changes price.
- Pre-buy inspection — always commission an independent inspection by a type-experienced mechanic before money changes hands.