Van's RV-4
Piston single engine • Low Wing • Fixed gear
Range Map
• nm at current load
• click map to move • two fingers to move map
Payload vs. Range
Configure weights
Default: 190 lbs
Default: 30 lbs
gal
Fuel on board
lbs
Extra weight
nm
Range
Mission Profile
Estimated Ownership Costs
About the Van's RV-4
Overview
The Van’s RV-4 is a two-seat, tandem, low-wing Experimental Amateur-Built kit aircraft from Van’s Aircraft of Aurora, Oregon, first flown in 1979 as Van’s first two-seater and the airplane that established the company’s reputation. Built with a 150 to 180 hp Lycoming O-320 or O-360, it cruises about 167 knots true, climbs around 1,650 fpm at gross, and is aerobatic at its lighter aerobatic gross weight. Conventional-gear only, with front-and-back seating, it is a lithe, classic sport taildragger; more than 1,400 were built before Van’s retired the kit.
The RV-4 is the tandem ancestor of the larger, roomier RV-8 that superseded it. Out of production since Van’s retired its legacy kits, it is bought used: parts and support continue, and a devoted owner community keeps the type flying. Buyers cross-shop a used RV-4 against the RV-8, the choice being build-new-and-roomier versus buy-now-and-lighter, and against classic certified taildraggers it outperforms. Choose the Van’s RV-4 when you want a light, nimble, aerobatic tandem taildragger with genuine Van’s pedigree at used-market prices, and you do not need the RV-8’s extra cabin room.
Key Features for GA Buyers
- Van’s first two-seater. The RV-4 established the company’s reputation for light, responsive two-seaters and the tandem, tailwheel formula the RV-8 later refined.
- Light and nimble. A lower gross weight than the RV-8 gives the RV-4 a lively, classic taildragger feel.
- Aerobatic. Capable of sport aerobatics within its aerobatic gross weight.
- Tandem efficiency. A slim, low-drag tandem fuselage delivers strong cruise on modest power.
Trade-offs
- Out of production. No new kits; you buy a completed airplane, so a thorough pre-buy is essential.
- Tandem and tight. Narrower and lighter than the RV-8 it spawned, with less cabin room and useful load.
- Tailwheel-only and aerobatic. Conventional gear and an aerobatic mission reward proficiency and transition training.
- Builder-dependent quality. Condition varies with the builder, and an experimental airframe carries no factory warranty.
See Also
- Van’s RV-8 – the larger, roomier tandem successor that replaced the RV-4. Compare
- Van’s RV-3 – the single-seat original from which the two-seat RVs grew. Compare
- Van’s RV-6 – the side-by-side two-seater of the same generation. Compare
- Van’s RV-7 – the modern side-by-side all-rounder, for builders who want a new kit. Compare
- Van’s RV-14 – the largest, most refined two-seater in the current line. Compare
Technical Specifications
Dimensions & Weights
- Height
- 5.42 ft
- Length
- 20.17 ft
- Parking area (ft2)
- 830.61 ft2
- Max Takeoff Weight
- 1,500 lbs
- Useful Load
- 594 lbs
- Fuel Capacity
- 32 gal
Performance
- Cruise Speed
- Source: manufacturer figure 167 KTAS
- Never-Exceed (VNE)
- Source: manufacturer figure 182 KIAS
- Max Structural Cruise (VNO)
- Source: manufacturer figure 156 KIAS
- Approach Speed
- 63 KIAS
- Stall, Clean (VS1)
- Source: manufacturer figure 50 KIAS
- Range
- 556 NM
- Service Ceiling
- 19,500 ft
- Rate of Climb
- 1650 fpm
Sources
Where the figures on this page come from. Van's RV-4 specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.
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Van's Aircraft -- Airspeed Indicator Markings chart (Rev 1, 2023-12-05), RV-4 column; red line is true and indicated, statute mph www.vansaircraft.com
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