N162DS

N162DS is a Van's Aircraft RV-9/RV-9A, a single-engine piston aircraft operated by DAVID Y STEVENS. SkyMeter has tracked 50 flights totalling 29 hours of airtime via ADS-B. The most frequent segment is K00V to K00V. Service window in our records spans 379 days. Of those flights, 16 (32.0%) carry at least one detected incident — go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Van's Aircraft RV-9/RV-9A has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,800 lb, light wake category.

About the Van's Aircraft RV-9/RV-9A

The Van's RV-9 is a two-seat homebuilt aircraft that has become one of the most popular kit planes in general aviation since its introduction in 1997. Designed by Richard VanGrunsven, the RV-9 was created as a more docile, touring-oriented alternative to Van's aerobatic RV series, emphasizing cross-country efficiency and ease of construction over raw performance. The type is available in two variants: the RV-9 with conventional tricycle landing gear and the RV-9A with tailwheel configuration, both sharing the same wing and fuselage.

Powered typically by a Lycoming O-320 or O-360 engine producing 150 to 180 horsepower, the RV-9 cruises comfortably at 170 knots while delivering exceptional fuel economy of around 6 gallons per hour. Its docile handling characteristics, including a relatively high stall speed of 51 knots clean and 45 knots in landing configuration, make it accessible to pilots transitioning from certified trainers. The aircraft's construction uses matched-hole technology that significantly reduces build time compared to earlier kit designs, with most builders completing their RV-9 in 1,200 to 1,800 hours.

The type's popularity stems from its blend of cross-country capability, reasonable operating costs, and the satisfaction of flying an aircraft you built yourself. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.