Choose RV-4 or RV-8?

[TomAniello]

After more than 15 years of dreaming, I hope to finally start construction of an RV later this summer. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with your time answering questions for me as I drooled over your RVs at Oshkosh and Sun n' Fun!

The question I haven?t answered yet is RV-4 or RV-8? I?d like to build a very clean, relatively simple aircraft to keep the investment cost as low as possible. Ultimate speed and an array of gadgets are not nearly as high on my list as efficiency, fun, and quality. I anticipate mostly one and two hour VFR fun flights, mild aerobatics, sight-seeing, etc., with very little long cross country flying. My wife hates to fly, so I expect to be solo 80% of the time and give rides to friends the other 20%. I?m 6?1? 190 pounds, so not too far up on the ?Bubba? scale.

I like the lines of the RV-4 better than the eight, and understand that the RV-4 has fewer (if any?) pre-punched parts. I?ve heard, too, that the RV-4 plans and instructions leave much to be desired relative to the RV-8. What can I expect as a first-time builder if I go with the RV-4? Will the RV-4 cockpit be too small for my size and flying intentions? Any difference in flying qualities? Builder support issues? I?d appreciate any thoughts forum members could share with me.

[John_RV4]

I'll take crack at this one. The RV8 is Van's "standard" tandem airplane. It will have better plans, better support, more evolution of the design, etc. etc. that goes with being in the mainstream. It has a bigger cabin and has a higher aerobatic gross limit(acro is solo only in the 4).

The downside is the $$$. Most people building the 8 appear to be loading them up pretty good. Average used prices are close if not over $100k. Nice RV4's are readily available at $50k. While a wood prop 320 powered RV4 is perfectly normal. A similar RV8 is somewhat unusual and may suffer in resale value.

So, if your budget is in the $50k range, look hard at the 4. If $100k is ok, then go for the 8. That said, none of it will matter if you don't fit in the 4. I know two guys who are your size. One fit well and flew a 4 for years very comfortably. The other had his knees hit the panel when seated. He is building an 8. You should make sure you are comfortable in a 4 or the whole discussion is moot. Try going to a local fly-in and see if you can sit in a few.

Good luck with your decision.

John

[RVRC]

I would like to say that I am 6 ft x 220 lbs. I am building a 4. I have sat in 4s that I fit in and some I don't. Most of the differences are in the thickness of the cushions and if one adds to the bottom of the panel and where the rudder peddles are placed. VANs says you may move the roll bar and back of the front seat back I think it is about 1-1/2".

YMMV

RVRC

Robert Cutter

[N62XS]

What is the "Bubba Scale"?

[Joe Hine]

Bubba Scale is a polite largeness scale, invented by Vans in their newsletter. It caught on.

[Joe Hine]

I'll take a crack at this as well. I've had my 4 flying for 7 years now, and if I ever build another RV I will have a hard time not doing a 4. I would change a few things, I'd like a slider for one.

I like the look of the 4 better. The landing gear legs just look better. It is a great flyer, lands very honestly. I fly out of a 1900 x 35 strip that often has cross winds and I can honestly say that I've never scared myself on landing.

I am 5'9", about 190 on the bubba scale, and I fit well. Fitting well is a relative term. The 4 is tight, but very workable. You have to learn to manage your maps and books well, but it is very doable.

Besides you will have the eternal admiration of these new "throw it in the air and it comes down assembled" builders. They will know that you struggled through the plans, drilled EVERY hole, and made things fit.

Best airplane in the world for the money in my opinion. As are all the RV's.

Joe Hine
C-FYTQ

[svanarts]

I'm short but well up on the bubba scale. No need to go into numbers here. The airplane you describe in your initial post IS the RV-4 but as others have pointed out you want to make sure you fit in one. I don't think you'll have a problem but what I think doesn't matter. Sit in a few and think about if you moved this or that, this way or that way would it make a better fit for you?

You really can't beat the RV-4 for looks AND handling. I can only compare it to the -6 but I have heard other say it is the best handling in the RV fleet. Your mission is about the same as mine, wife is not a big time flier, mostly local hops of 2 hours or less. The 4 really fits your bill.

As far as building, don't worry about the manual. It will keep you on the right track. I've never built anything in my life. I never even took shop class in high school. Still, I was able to build my RV-4. True, you have to drill and dimple a LOT of holes but it's not as time consuming as it seems. Besides if you run into a snag in the building process, you've still got Van's support, but best of all you can do what RV builder have been doing for hundreds of years... check the mailing list archives, ask questions here. Most of us on these forums have built our own and no matter what you run into, we've all been there done that and moved on. You will too. Don't sweat it, just dive in!

[TomAniello]

Thanks guys, for sharing your experiences. It just reinforces in my mind what a great bunch of people I've found the RV community to be. I'm excited to begin. We have the Rocky Mountain Regional Fly-In near Denver in June, and Van is displaying, so I'll try to wrangle a sit in an RV-4 and make my decision. The first RV I ever saw in person was a -4, and it just seems to keep coming back to me.

Fly safe,

Tom

[Ted Farmin]

Tom, I have a small problem in that I have a artificial leg so I did some
serious looking before starting to build the 4. I found a 4 that had the
front seat moved back 2" that I was able to sit in and have adequet room
for the bionic leg to clear the bottom of the panel. I am now finishing the
canopy and have sat in the plane with the foot held on the pedal with a
sturup under the foot attached to the pedal that works great. Will put a
hydrolic motorcycle type brake lever on the stick for the right wheel. Didn't
do anymore than move the roll bar back 2" plus the seat back. Don't even
think about widening the cockpit as a friend did, the roll bar had to be widened plus many other problems.
Ted

[svanarts]

I widened the cockpit side rails just ahead of the roll bar to give me a little more shoulder room but didn't change the plans to make any other part of the cockpit wider.