Van's Aircraft RV-4

infobox Aircraft
name = RV-4
type = RV-4

manufacturer = Van's Aircraft

---

caption =
designer = Richard VanGrunsven
first flight = August 1979
introduction = 1980
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1257 cite web|url = http://vansaircraft.com/public/flights.htm|title = First Flights|accessdate = 2008-03-28|last = Vans Aircraft|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = March]
program cost=
unit cost = USD$37,000-$73,000
developed from = Van's Aircraft RV-3
variants with their own articles =

The Van's RV-4 is a light homebuilt aircraft supplied in kit form. It seats two people in a tandem seating configuration with the pilot accommodated in the front seat.

The Van's RV series has become the most popular kit-built aircraft in the world. The RV-4 is the second most popular RV model, outsold only by the now discontinued RV-6.

As of March 2008, 1257 RV-4s had been completed and flown worldwide.

Development

Richard VanGrunsven designed the RV-4 in the mid 1970s as a two-seat development of the single-seat RV-3. The RV-4 prototype first flew in August 1979.

The RV-4 is a new design based upon the concepts proven in the RV-3 and is not merely a stretched RV-3. The RV-4 airframe will accept a range of engines up to 180 hp, including the Lycoming O-360. The RV-4 has a new wing, with increased wingspan and wing area over the RV-3. Like all other RV series aircraft - except the RV-9 and 10 - the RV-4 is designed for sport (i.e., non-competitive) aerobatics.

The RV-4 has proven to be a capable cross country aircraft in service, able to carry two modest sized people and baggage on longer trips. RV-4s have been flown around the world, notably by an Australian, Jon Johanson, who completed world-girdling RV-4 flights on two occasions.

Many larger people find the RV-4 cockpit design physically constraining, and as a result VanGrunsven has designed an entire family of derivative designs. The RV-6 was designed to allow side-by-side seating, and the RV-8 was created as an enlarged aircraft that follows the RV-4's philosophy and offers tandem seating in a bigger aircraft.

Unlike most later RV series designs, the RV-4 was has no nosewheel-equipped version, although some may have been constructed with nose wheels by builders. At least two RV-4s have also been built with retractable landing gear (mostly for the engineering challenge, as the performance gains were modest).

Aircraft Type Club

The RV-4 has a very active Aircraft type club "Van's Air Force", that provides support for owners and pilots of this type.

pecifications (Typical RV-4)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=pilot
capacity=1 passenger
length main=20 ft 4 in
length alt=6.20 m
span main=23 ft
span alt=7.01 m
height main=5 ft 5 in
height alt=1.65 m
area main=110 ft²

area alt= 10.2 m²
empty weight main=905-913 lb
empty weight alt=410-414 kg
loaded weight main= 1,500 lb
loaded weight alt= 680 kg
max takeoff weight main= 1,500 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 680 kg
engine (prop)=Lycoming O-320/O-360/IO-360
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main= 150-180hp
power alt= 110-135 kW

max speed main= 200 mph at sea level

max speed alt= 320 km/h
never exceed speed main= 210 mph
never exceed speed alt= 340 km/h
range main=725 miles Cruise 55% power at 8,000 ft

range alt=1,170 km

ceiling main=23,000 ft

ceiling alt= 7,000 m
climb rate main=2450 ft/min

climb rate alt=12.5 m/s
loading main=13.64 lb/ft²

loading alt= 67 kg/m²
power/mass main= 0.1-0.12 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.16-0.20 kW/kg

References

* [http://vansaircraft.com/public/rv-4int.htm Van's Aircraft Website]

ee also

Related development

* Van's Aircraft RV-3
* Van's Aircraft RV-6
* Van's Aircraft RV-8

imilar aircraft

* Europa XS
* Thorp T-18

External links

* [http://vansaircraft.com/ Van's Aircraft]
* [http://www.vansairforce.net Van's Aircraft Type Club]

aircontent

References

* [http://vansaircraft.com/public/rv-4int.htm Van's Aircraft Website]

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