The Van's RV series has become the most popular kit-built aircraft in the world.[3] As of April 2019[update], the RV-4 is the fourth most popular RV model.[1]
As of November 2022, 1446 RV-4s had been completed and flown worldwide.[1]
Van's Aircraft RV-4 at Kemble Airfield, England.Van's Aircraft RV-4Harmon Rocket II
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 (134 kW), including the Lycoming O-360. The RV-4 has a new wing, with increased wingspan and wing area over the RV-3. The RV-4 is designed for sport 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, RV-4 kits are only available with conventional landing gear, although some may have been constructed in tricycle configuration 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).
Variantsedit
RV-4
Basic version
Harmon Rocket
Higher performance derivative of the RV4, with clipped wings, a 300 hp (224 kW) Lycoming IO-540 engine and a razorback turtledeck.[4]
^Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 74. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
^"Homebuilt Airplanes & Van's RV - EAA Museum". www.eaa.org. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
^"Harmonrocket". Harmonrocket. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
^Van's Aircraft. . www.vansaircraft.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Van's Aircraft RV-4.
Official website
April 12, 2024
aircraft, american, light, homebuilt, aircraft, supplied, form, aircraft, aurora, oregon, seats, people, tandem, seating, configuration, with, pilot, accommodated, front, seat, 4role, 4national, origin, united, statesmanufacturer, aircraftdesigner, richard, va. The Van s RV 4 is an American light homebuilt aircraft supplied in kit form by Van s Aircraft of Aurora Oregon It seats two people in a tandem seating configuration with the pilot accommodated in the front seat 2 RV 4Role RV 4National origin United StatesManufacturer Van s AircraftDesigner Richard VanGrunsvenFirst flight August 1979Introduction 1980Number built 1446 November 2022 1 Developed from Van s Aircraft RV 3The Van s RV series has become the most popular kit built aircraft in the world 3 As of April 2019 update the RV 4 is the fourth most popular RV model 1 As of November 2022 1446 RV 4s had been completed and flown worldwide 1 Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 3 Specifications Typical RV 4 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment edit nbsp Van s Aircraft RV 4 at Kemble Airfield England nbsp Van s Aircraft RV 4 nbsp Harmon Rocket IIRichard 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 134 kW including the Lycoming O 360 The RV 4 has a new wing with increased wingspan and wing area over the RV 3 The RV 4 is designed for sport 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 RV 4 kits are only available with conventional landing gear although some may have been constructed in tricycle configuration 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 Variants editRV 4 Basic version Harmon Rocket Higher performance derivative of the RV4 with clipped wings a 300 hp 224 kW Lycoming IO 540 engine and a razorback turtledeck 4 Specifications Typical RV 4 edit nbsp Cockpit of an RV 4 in 2006 Data from manufacturer 5 General characteristicsLength 20 ft 4 in 6 20 m Wingspan 23 ft 7 0 m Height 5 ft 5 in 1 65 m Wing area 110 sq ft 10 m2 Empty weight 903 lb 410 kg minimum Gross weight 1 500 lb 680 kg Fuel capacity 32 U S gallons 120 L 27 imp gal Powerplant 1 Lycoming O 360 four cylinder piston aircraft engine 180 hp 130 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch or constant speed propellerPerformance Maximum speed 212 mph 341 km h 184 kn Cruise speed 200 mph 320 km h 170 kn 75 power at 8 000 ft Stall speed 54 mph 87 km h 47 kn Range 590 mi 950 km 510 nmi Service ceiling 23 000 ft 7 000 m Rate of climb 1 950 ft min 9 9 m s Wing loading 13 64 lb sq ft 66 6 kg m2 Power mass 8 33 lb hpSee also editRelated development Van s Aircraft RV 3 Van s Aircraft RV 6 Van s Aircraft RV 8Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Europa XS Team Rocket F1 Rocket Thorp T 18References edit a b c Vans Aircraft November 2022 First Flights Retrieved November 7 2022 Vandermeullen Richard 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer s Guide Kitplanes Volume 28 Number 12 December 2011 page 74 Belvoir Publications ISSN 0891 1851 Homebuilt Airplanes amp Van s RV EAA Museum www eaa org Retrieved May 20 2019 Harmonrocket Harmonrocket Retrieved May 20 2019 Van s Aircraft RV 4 www vansaircraft com Archived from the original on May 20 2019 Retrieved May 20 2019 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Van s Aircraft RV 4 Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Van 27s Aircraft RV 4 amp oldid 1120622676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
