COMMON
RV4
Van's RV-4
The Homebuilt Hero
“Built in a garage. Flies like a fighter.”
Van's Aircraft (kit) · private
Length
20 ft 0 in
Wingspan
23 ft 0 in
Max speed
200 kts
Range
700 nmi
Ceiling
22,000 ft
Engines
1x Lycoming O-320 (160 hp)
Crew
1
Max passengers
1
Typical config
1 pilot + 1 passenger (tandem)
Built
1800+
The RV-4 is a tandem two-seat aerobatic homebuilt that turned Van's Aircraft into a legend. Designed by Dick VanGrunsven in the 1970s, it proved that amateur-built planes could outperform factory aircraft. With a 200mph cruise speed and crisp aerobatic handling, the RV-4 launched the most successful homebuilt aircraft company in history.
Fun fact
Van's RV series has more flying examples than any other homebuilt design in the world — over 11,000 RVs are flying.
How to spot one
Tandem seating (one behind the other). Low wing. Fully aerobatic. The classic Van's design.
Crews call it
The Four
Sounds like
Lycoming four-cylinder with attitude — aerobatic exhaust note
One might be overhead right now.
Bogey turns the The Homebuilt Hero from a dot in the sky into a card in your logbook. Coming to iOS and Android.
Get Bogey