Vans RV-4 Info

[WannaBeBiggles]

Hi all

I'd love to hear from some Vans RV-4 owners about the aircraft, issues and average running costs.

I am looking at purchasing one of these aircraft and am looking for as much info on them as possible.

Thanks in advance.
:ok:

[NigelOnDraft]

You'll get far more info via rvsqn : The RV Squadron (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rvsqn/) (more UK specific) and VAF Forums (http://www.vansairforce.com/community/index.php) (more US based) than here I suspect.

Briefly...
Pros: Great aircraft, generally appreciated the most fun / best handling of the RV range.
Cons: Cannot legally do aeros 2 up, more cramped / less baggage space/weight than later models. I believe you need to be careful/aware of engine mount cracks round the gear mounts (?)
Running Costs: Lycoming standard Fuel & Oil. Rest down to you! Bare spare parts tend to be cheap from Van's, but NB you might then have to "build them".

(from an RV-8 builder/owner - G-HILZ - the story of our RV8 (http://www.g-hilz.co.uk) )

NoD

[360BakTrak]

Cannot do aeros legally 2-up?! You sure on that?:confused:

[Mark 1]

If you are running one under an LAA permit, then the Van's recommendations for aerobatic gross weight and aft CG limit will be written into the permit limitations.

For the +6/-3G aerobatic limit, you are limited to 625kg (705kg MTOW). My aircraft's empty weight is 460, I weigh 72kg which leaves 93 kg for passenger and fuel for aeros. So passengers above 50kg will not leave much allowance for fuel. The aft CG limit will re reached at about the same time (stick force per G criterion).

Of course, they are regularly aerobatted above those limits, but with reduced margins and not sanctioned by the manufacturer. That may be legal under US experimental rules, but not under UK rules.They can perform most manoeuvres without exceeding about 2.5G if your careful.

The RV-8 allows about an extra 50kg of aerobatic useful load and is more easily kept in CG limits.

The engine mount cracking is a feature of the gear legs being mounted on the engine mount. Most owners don't have any problems, mainly an issue with people operating regularly on bumpy strips. There is a mod approved for bracing the engine mount if required.

Easy to maintain, doesn't take too much hangar space (I sneak in behind one wing of a motor-glider), reasonable insurance and a quite economical tourer (I get 25 litres/hour for a 135 KIAS cruise).

The springy undercarriage takes a bit of getting used to, but only average tailwheel skills required.

I've yet to find anything that's nicer to fly (though I am building an RV-8).

Feel free to PM if you want to go into more detail.