Take off and landing
Hi
Without knowing your reference points in what you have flown it is difficult to give proper feedback. However, I have flown Cubs, Luscombes, Grob Slmg, an Ogar Slmg, Rv7, RV4, RV6, Tailwind......... I won't mention nose gear.
The main difference between all these types is torque effect from the prop on take off, bigger engine more torque... And how quick the aeroplane responds to control input, followed by the rate of response.
RVs respond very quickly and the rate of response is fast too. So you require deft and accurate footwork......... No size 14 shoes hammering down.
A problem with how RVs are set up is the angle of the brake to the rudder bar, you have to consciously move your feet down onto the bar on takeoff to make sure you are not holding a bit of brake in. There is a fix for this which allows for a bit of displacement if the foot on the rudder bar which you can buy. It allows the foot to sit on the bar without touching the brake.
I hope someone chimes in on this because I would like to buy one fir my 4 and need to know who sells them.
In terms if landing the 4 is a pussycat, 70mph is my approach speed with full flap slowing to 60 over the fence. When I am about 10ft above the runway I pull all the power of and glide the last bit, slowing up as I do so and three pointers are easy. I do 1500 ft grass strips a lot and without trying hard it is easy to stop in 400ft. They pretty much roll out straight and true, crosswinds up to 15 it are easy.
Takeoff requires attention especially in a crosswind because you might have the wind trying to weathercock you one way and be feeding in ridder to correct it, then as you bring up the power the torque reaction might try to send you in the opposite direction. A 4 is much more likely to bite you in that situation than when landing when you are only dealing with a cross wind. Having said that because the controls are so effective and the aeroplane is off the ground so quick with practice it becomes more easy to deal with.