Richard VanGrunsven

Richard VanGrunsven
Born1939 (age 84–85)
Forest Grove, Oregon, US
Alma materUniversity of Portland
Occupation(s)Engineer, aviation entrepreneur
Years active1961–present
Known forVan's Aircraft founder
SpouseDiane VanGrunsven

Richard E. "Dick" VanGrunsven[1] (born 1939) is an American aircraft designer and kit plane manufacturer. The number of VanGrunsven-designed homebuilt aircraft produced each year in North America exceeds the production of all commercial general aviation companies combined.[2]

In 1973 VanGrunsven founded the aircraft manufacturing company Van's Aircraft, and in 2012 became the founding president of the Aircraft Kit Industry Association (AKIA), an American aviation advocacy association.[3][4][5][6][7]

  1. ^ Although commonly known as "Dick" by the media and public, VanGrunsven primarily uses "Richard".
  2. ^ Lane Wallace (June 2012). "Van's Air Force". Sport Aviation.
  3. ^ Pew, Glenn (6 July 2012). "AKIA -- The Kit Manufacturers' Association". AVweb. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  4. ^ Hirschman, Dave (2012). "Aircraft kit industry forms new association". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  5. ^ Wood, Janice (5 July 2012). "Kit manufacturers form new association". General Aviation News. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  6. ^ Pew, Glenn (27 July 2012). "Kit Association Responding To NTSB". AVweb. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  7. ^ Bernard, Mary and Suzanne B. Bopp: Q&A with AKIA President Dick VanGrunsven, Kitplanes, Volume 29, Number 12, December 2012, page 28-29. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851