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  #11  
Old 12-30-2011, 09:20 AM
Jetj01 Jetj01 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 337
Default 182 Knots at 9'500 feet, available MP and 2380 RPM is happening!

"180 knots on a clean RV4 is most certainly possible but it will take a bit of work to make a clean aircraft and more then a bit of money in terms of the engine and prop to get those numbers."

I agree with the above statement that it takes a bit of work on the 'clean' airframe. In my case it involved some changes to the basic RV-4 kit design as evidenced by the pictures on this thread. And it did come in lighter than some equally equipped at 1054#. And I did pay attention to my fairings and airframe intersections. However my engine was purchased on Barnstomers, a used, not so recently overhauled, yellow tagged 180 hp carbed and Slick magged engine off a twin Beech Travelair for $16K. The other engine is flying on a friends RV-6 (who I bought the engine from after he got the pick of the litter!). As for the prop, bone stock BA Hartzel 74" from Van's.

My RV-4FB wasn't built as cheap as I had hoped (<$40K) but less than half of what I sold my ROCKET for! Well well below $80K, just ask my ex-wife

My build friends will tell you, like Neal, Paul, Greg, John and Smokey, that I built this plane based on a picture I had in my head of what I wanted it to look like after owning three previous -4s I had purchased flying, not based on a speed quest. I secretly hoped that it would not be the SLOWEST RV-4 in existance, but didn't know. I have been pleasantly surprised by its performance and IT IS consistantly that fast. Even faster down low and wide open, easily exceeding redline (not adviced!). I know it sounds impossible and more than one of you VAF listers have doubted it but after a formation sortie, are now believers. I'm just very happy with the plane! And I'm 6'1" and 200#s and VERY COMFORTABLE and just lask week had a 250# 6 footer in the 'pit'. It's a great overall compromise on a budget I can afford!

Thanks for the props Neal and Smokey!
__________________
Jj
Eagles Nest, TX
Built and FLYING RV-4 Fastback!
SOLD RV-6/RV-8/Rocket
Retired USAF, Current Boeing Driver
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  #12  
Old 12-30-2011, 12:18 PM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
Default Here are the speeds of every RV-4 in SARL race competition

Race Date Class Aircraft Type Pilot Speed Kts
AirVenture Cup 2010 7/26/10 RV Gold RV-4 Anders, Dave 209.06
Big Sky Air Race 7/9/11 RV Blue RV-4 Travis, Brent 188.03
Pagosa Springs 100 9/24/11 RV Blue RV-4 Travis, Brent 186.49
AirVenture Cup 2008 7/27/08 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 186.01
Great Northwest Air Race II 6/18/11 RV Blue RV-4 Travis, Brent 184.89
Texoma 100, 2008 4/20/08 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 183.67
Great NW Air Race 6/13/10 RV Blue RV-4 Travis, Brent 182.65
Texoma 100, 2008 4/20/08 RV Blue RV-4 Harris, Winn 181.60
AirVenture Cup 2007 7/23/07 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 180.33
TVA II 2009 10/18/09 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 179.23
Grace Flight 2008 10/5/08 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 178.51
Taylor 100 2009 3/16/09 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 178.02
AirVenture Cup 2010 7/26/10 RV Blue RV-4 Shoup, Doug 177.64
TVA II 2009 10/18/09 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 176.54
Rocket 100 2008 11/23/08 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 174.92
West Texas 100 6/6/10 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 174.17
Rocket 100, 2007 11/18/07 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 174.12
Taylor 150 4/11/10 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 174.11
Grace Flight 2010 10/2/10 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 173.76
Pagosa Springs 2010 9/26/10 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 173.65
AirVenture Cup 2010 7/26/10 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 173.00
Colorado 150 2009 7/23/09 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 172.90
Memphis 100 2008 10/19/08 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 172.78
Texoma 100, 2011 4/16/11 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 170.51
Taylor 100 2007 5/20/07 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 170.43
Memphis 100 2008 10/19/08 RV Red RV-4 Smith, Dwight 169.88
Pagosa Springs 100 2009 9/27/09 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 169.78
Tennessee Valley Air Race 2010 10/30/10 RV Red RV-4 Archord, Jim 169.17
Sulphur Springs 130 7/18/10 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 168.84
Colorado 150 2009 7/23/09 RV Blue RV-4 Hall, Jeff 168.74
West Texas 100 6/6/10 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 167.83
Pagosa Springs 2010 9/26/10 RV Red RV-4 Faubion, Robert 167.80
West Texas 100 6/6/10 RV Red RV-4 Faubion, Robert 167.44
West Texas 100, 2007 10/7/07 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 166.40
West Texas 100 2009 4/12/09 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 166.29
Colorado 150, 2008 6/29/08 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 165.65
West Texas 100 6/6/10 RV Blue RV-4 Martin, Matt 164.16
Tennessee Valley Air Race IV 10/29/11 RV Red RV-4 Murphy, Chris 163.35
Denton 100 2008 6/15/08 RV Red RV-4 Bruggers, Ken 162.71
Taylor 150 4/11/10 RV Red RV-4 Faubion, Robert 162.24
Memphis 100, 2007 10/28/07 RV Red RV-4 Smith, Dwight 158.39
AirVenture Cup (TH) 2011 7/25/11 RV Red RV-4 Crawford, Tony 155.55
Top of the Chesapeake 7/11/10 RV Red RV-4 Winkelman, Steve 155.39
Texoma 100 4/25/10 RV Red RV-4 Benton, Cam 132.78
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  #13  
Old 12-30-2011, 02:55 PM
Christopher Murphy Christopher Murphy is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: colorado
Posts: 873
Talking Fast rv-4

If you want a fast rv anything make it light my stock o320 has out performed a number of 180+ hp -4's
Cm race 34
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  #14  
Old 12-30-2011, 08:12 PM
steve91t steve91t is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Huntersville, NC
Posts: 138
Default

Thanks everyone for your comments. Unfortunately, as much as I want a Rocket or a fast 4, my wife is **** bent on sitting next to me. She wants to be able to experience flying with me, not just be in the back. I guess that's nothing I should complain about. I'm very luck ti have a wife who is excited to sit next to me and help.

I guess that means that I'm just going to have to buy Smokey's RVX!

Seriously, maybe I should start poking around the RV6 section. Maybe I'll make enough money someday to have a 6 along with a 3!
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  #15  
Old 12-30-2011, 11:56 PM
Neal@F14's Avatar
Neal@F14 Neal@F14 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Wichita Falls, TX
Posts: 2,182
Default

The RV-6's are no slouch. With the slightly shorter wing and smaller rudder, they can be quite fast if built light and equipped well. I'm still looking at an RV-6 as my first very own RV and if the particular one I'm looking at hasn't sold by the time I finish saving up the desired down payment and secure financing, I'll have a 160hp O-320 RV-6 with fixed pitch wood prop that has been known to easily cruise at more that 190mph IAS.
__________________
Neal Howard
Airplaneless once again...
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  #16  
Old 12-31-2011, 10:34 AM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
Default RV-6 you say, well here are their speeds

Here are all the RV-6 race speeds sorted by speed:

Race Date Class Aircraft Type Pilot Speed Kts
AirVenture Cup 2008 7/27/08 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 194.56
Rocket 100, 2010 11/20/10 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob 192.80
Texoma 100, 2008 4/20/08 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 188.36
Tennessee Valley Air Race 2010 10/30/10 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob 187.52
Taylor 100 2007 5/20/07 RV Blue RV-6 Attaway, Robbie 186.47
Top of the Chesapeake II 7/9/11 RV Blue RV-6 Reed, Gary 186.45
AirCap 200 8/24/08 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob 185.16
Texoma 100, 2008 4/20/08 RV Blue RV-6 Berry, Damon 185.11
Rocket 100 2008 11/23/08 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 183.83
Texoma 100 2009 5/31/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 183.81
Taylor 150, 2011 4/2/11 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 183.41
TVA II 2009 10/18/09 RV Blue RV-6 Brooks, Chris 183.15
Taylor 100 2009 3/16/09 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 182.35
Indy Air Race 8/13/11 RV Blue RV-6 Reed, Gary 181.98
Tennessee 150 (Tullahoma) 9/10/11 RV Blue RV-6 Brooks, Chris 181.70
Tennessee Valley Air Race IV 10/29/11 RV Blue RV-6 Brooks , Chris 181.50
BCAF 150, 2008 5/4/08 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 181.45
Grace Flight 2010 10/2/10 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob 181.23
Lone Star Air Rally 5/14/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 181.22
Texoma 100, 2008 4/20/08 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 180.72
Texoma 100, 2011 4/16/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 180.64
Sulphur Springs 130 7/18/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 180.62
Taylor 100 2009 3/16/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 180.43
AirCap 200 8/24/08 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 180.28
Memphis 100 2008 10/19/08 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 180.26
AirVenture Cup 2007 7/23/07 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 179.99
AirVenture Cup 2010 7/26/10 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob 179.83
Taylor 150, 2011 4/2/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 179.82
Great Canadian Air Rally 2010 8/22/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 179.45
Tennessee Valley Air Race 2009 6/14/09 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 178.98
AirVenture Cup 2007 7/23/07 RV Red RV-6A Klusmier, Larry 178.90
Colorado 150, 2008 6/29/08 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 178.63
Rocket 100, 2010 11/20/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 178.53
Colorado 150 2009 7/23/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 178.52
Tennessee Valley Air Race IV 10/29/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 178.49
2011 West Tesas 100 6/18/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 178.47
West Texas 100 6/6/10 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob 178.04
AirVenture Cup 2007 7/23/07 RV Red RV-6 Weisgerber, David 177.92
Grace Flight 2010 10/2/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 177.52
Tennessee Valley Air Race 2009 6/14/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 177.43
Big Sky Air Race 7/9/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 177.43
Cleveland Texas Air Race 10/15/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 177.25
BCAF 150, 2008 5/4/08 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 177.23
Pagosa Springs 100 2009 9/27/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 177.05
Grace Flight 2009 10/4/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 176.90
Memphis 100, 2007 10/28/07 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 176.86
Colorado 150, 2008 6/29/08 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 176.66
Rocket 100 2008 11/23/08 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 176.46
Rocket 100 2009 11/22/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 176.35
Rocket 100, 2007 11/18/07 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 176.33
Northwoods 100 10/8/11 RV Blue RV-6 Barnes, Jeff 176.13
Tennessee Valley Air Race 2010 10/30/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 175.93
Grace Flight 2008 10/5/08 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 175.66
Taylor 150 4/11/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 175.56
Tennessee 150 (Tullahoma) 9/10/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 175.32
Denton 100 2008 6/15/08 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 175.11
TVA II 2009 10/18/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 175.03
Taylor 100 2007 5/20/07 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 174.22
Texoma 100 2009 5/31/09 RV Blue RV-6 McCright, Dennis 174.17
Pagosa Springs 2010 9/26/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 173.42
Memphis 100, 2007 10/28/07 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 173.02
Memphis 100 2008 10/19/08 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 172.62
Rocket 100, 2007 11/18/07 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 171.11
Texoma 100 4/25/10 RV Blue RV-6 Waggoner, Mark 170.82
West Texas 100 2009 4/12/09 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 169.93
Wichita 300 7/17/07 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 169.91
West Texas 100 6/6/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 169.73
Great Canadian Air Rally 2010 8/22/10 RV Blue RV-6A Kukura, Dave 169.62
Taylor 100 2007 5/20/07 RV Blue RV-6A Axsom, Bob & Jeanine 168.72
Pagosa Springs 100 9/24/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 168.62
Big Muddy, Carbondale, IL 6/4/11 RV Red RV-6 Weisgerber, David 167.82
West Texas 100, 2007 10/7/07 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 167.20
AirCap 200 8/24/08 RV Red RV-6 Smith, Jim 166.21
Big Sky Air Race 7/9/11 RV Blue RV-6A Klewin, Kurt 165.48
BCAF 2011 4/30/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 164.94
Cleveland Texas Air Race 10/15/11 RV Red RV-6 Behrends, Steve 164.72
AirVenture Cup (TH) 2011 7/25/11 RV Blue RV-6 Barnes, Jeff 164.24
West Texas 100 2009 4/12/09 RV Blue RV-6A Nymeyer, Rance 164.12
Rocket 100, 2011 11/19/11 RV Blue RV-6A Moore, Mike 163.43
Texoma 100, 2011 4/16/11 RV Red RV-6 Smith, Jim 163.38
TVA II 2009 10/18/09 RV Red RV-6A Phillips, Mark 162.66
Texoma 100, 2008 4/20/08 RV Red RV-6A Heathco, Charlie 161.75
Great Canadian Air Rally 2010 8/22/10 RV Blue RV-6 Katz, Paul 159.73
Cleveland Texas Air Race 10/15/11 RV Red RV-6 Bivens, Darrell 159.35
Memphis 100, 2007 10/28/07 RV Blue RV-6A Lee, Ron 158.66
Lone Star Air Rally 5/14/11 RV Red RV-6A Bivens, Darrell 154.86
Great NW Air Race 6/13/10 RV Red RV-6A Hungelmann, Bill 152.37
Memorial 130, Terrell, TX 5/28/11 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 149.97
Lone Star Air Rally 5/14/11 RV Red RV-6A McGinnis, Patrick 144.92
AirVenture Cup 2009 7/27/09 RV Red RV-6 Campbell Steve & John Popel 138.33
Texoma 100 4/25/10 RV Blue RV-6 Thompson, Mike 130.60

Bob Axsom
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  #17  
Old 01-29-2012, 10:18 PM
theduff theduff is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Fallbrook Calif.
Posts: 279
Default There are faster RV's.

[IMG][/IMG]

Here is a picture of mine with the cowl off. My personal best recorded speed run in a two way average was 235 mph. It was done at 3500 ft msl on a 90 degree day. Besides the sliding canopy I have made minimal airframe changes basically just Hertzler wheel pants and Saylor gear leg fairings. I do have a custom engine and modified induction system. My engine puts out in excess of 220 hp so that obviously helps. Dave Anders has set the bar very high but I'd like to think I'm in the top 10 anyway. Oh just to stir the pot I have outrun a Rocket before but he had a stock engine and a MT 3 blade, very smooth but slow.
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  #18  
Old 01-31-2012, 09:03 AM
Christopher Murphy Christopher Murphy is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: colorado
Posts: 873
Default pretty airplane...

You have a beautiful -4. Just couriuos... how much does it weigh empty?

CM Race 34
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  #19  
Old 01-31-2012, 12:41 PM
WAM120RV WAM120RV is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Coventry. England
Posts: 614
Talking Slowest

I bet I have got the slowest....... its been in my workshop for almost 20 years with only the odd excursion into my garden for rigging.

Hopefully this will be the year it takes flight........... just before the world is due to end............. hmmm, I should have concentrated on the 4 not all the other ones I built.
__________________
http://www.aerobuilder.blogspot.com


Steve Arnold
England

In completion stage of Loehle P5151
Built and now Flying G.BVLR Vans RV4
Rebuilt G.BDBD Tailwind
Rebuilt G BVTN Kitfox
Built G CDCD RV9A with WAM120
Riveted wings on Glastar G.LEZZ Now (G. SKUA)
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  #20  
Old 01-31-2012, 12:47 PM
WAM120RV WAM120RV is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Coventry. England
Posts: 614
Talking Slowest

I bet I have got the slowest....... its been in my workshop for almost 20 years with only the odd excursion into my garden for rigging.

Hopefully this will be the year it takes flight........... just before the world is due to end............. hmmm, I should have concentrated on the 4 not all the other ones I built.
__________________
http://www.aerobuilder.blogspot.com


Steve Arnold
England

In completion stage of Loehle P5151
Built and now Flying G.BVLR Vans RV4
Rebuilt G.BDBD Tailwind
Rebuilt G BVTN Kitfox
Built G CDCD RV9A with WAM120
Riveted wings on Glastar G.LEZZ Now (G. SKUA)
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