Well, I'm finally back into the GA world! After a short hiatus, and a friend selling my only GA option, a new friend has emerged with a sweet RV-4. I'm on the insurance and finished my checkout today!

I know this is the Beech forum, however, this sweet bird will have to do for a while until I'm ready for the V-Tail!

It might be a Beech forum but the Aviation Enthusiast on this board loves all planes.

Spot on Rick!

I am sure most of us would love to ride in your RV-4! I would fly a kite, is that is all I had to fly; congratulations!

Nate,

What is your impression of flying the -4? I'm building a -8 but have only been in an RV one time.

The -7 I flew was a hot rod (IO-390) but seemed docile on the ground.

Robert

And if you think Beech people aren't interested in RV-4s, just post your new friends contact info and insurance requirements and see just how many new friends he meets!

Judging from the picture she really looks sweet!

Oh and the plane looks nice too

I have flown a few RV 6's , how does the 4 compare as far as g load limits and aerobatics?

You're flying with Carbin!?

I saw Malibu's for sale sign up in the OG building last week. Congrats, lets go fly! Let me know when you guys want to put that baby in a real hangar, rather than just in the sunshade. It's more expensive, but a but nicer setup.

Brandon, PM Coming.

Robert and David, the -4 is sweet. A tight like a glove cockpit, very utilitarian...like my ole F-16. She climbs out of the pattern at ~1500-1700 fpm with two on board and hits pattern alt on the crosswind pull. This -4 has a 180 hp Lyc, carburetor with a constant speed prop, JPI and little GPS. She's rated to +6/-3 (I believe on the minus, don't intend to go there ) yet we keep it to +4. 130-140 KIAS around town, 165T on XC. It flies great in the pattern and is very docile and stable. No tendency to wander off on the pitch or bank, just set it and leave it really, very forgiving. 65KIAS over the numbers full flap, 75KIAS for a no Flap.

Not sure how to compare it as all my other taildragger time is in the Extra 330LC. I would say she feels like a 3/4th scale Extra in every department, speed, climb, roll rate, G, power, etc...everything. Some friends have a -8 and they love the slightly larger cockpit and fuel tanks, aside from that they are about the same, or so I'm told.

Thanks guys, I am very lucky to have this bird to fly for a while, however the wife tells me I can get a 2 seater plane, but I worry about the occasional trip the 4 of us would want to take. Tempting...

Awesome. . but, it's not even close to an Extra. Extra's weren't designed to do simple loops and rolls. Snaps, inverted and outside maneuvers are where it shines.

Once you start doing those in the -4 you'll see where it fails.

It's a really fun airplane though!

I love the tailwheel RV's, sweet aircraft

Love RVs the 4 is my favorite. They eat up Idaho and scream back home to Cali.
Congrats
I taxied a 140 yesterday dreaming of finishing tailwheel.
Mark

I have been blessed to fly a lot of airplanes, many of which are very cool, and nothing (that I have flown) flies better than a light wood prop RV-4......

The C/S version performs better, and they fly very well, but again, NOTHING (that I have flown, >170 types) flies better than a light wood prop RV-4..... Mustang, Corsair, P-40, Waco, Meyers OTW, Extra, to name some really nice flying airplanes, the RV-4 is a nicer flying airplane. In short order it becomes a part of your body and it is as close to growing feathers as we will ever get.

I saw a RV4 competing in the Sportsman category at the Copperstate contest back in 1996. The girl flying it did a nice job. I'm pretty sure that it had an inverted system in it. I've flown a RV6 before and it was a very nice flying little airplane. While I was flying it I noticed that I was flying with just my index finger and thumb on the stick. Very light, balanced controls.

I've had my RV6 for almost 12 years now and still enjoy it. I've often kicked around stepping up to something bigger but can't come to grips with selling the RV. I will probably just keep it even if I do step up.





Dave