[Global5000]

Good afternoon,

I am new to this forum but signed up specifically to ask for advice/tips on purchasing/running an RV type aircraft.

My day job is flying and I am looking for a fun aircraft to fly with my wife on my time off and do a little touring. The aircraft will be based in Scotland ( undecided airfield yet ) and used for trips around the UK and possibly down to Portugal.

I appreciate the RV4 is a little on the small side, but I am happy to stop for a top up every few hours and a leg stretch. I am looking for something thats fun, simple and has a reasonable turn of speed. Having never flown one, or even seen one up close I was wondering if you might indulge me in some flying stories or point me in the right direction to learn more about them?

I work abroad at the moment so I cant just pop down to an airfield sadly but I will be back in the UK in August and would be delighted if someone might allow me to have a look at an aircraft and would be kind enough to let me see an RV4 up close. A nice bottle of wine or whiskey would be the very least I could offer in return.

Any suggestions/discussion very much appreciated and I look forward to joining in with the Flyer community.

My budget is around 50k.

Kindest regards,

Global5000

[GolfHotel]

Several RV's have just returned from Menorca, Sante Luise. Get on the RV forum for advice.

My £00.02 worth. Get a side by side. You get more luggage (more usable luggage as far as the 8 goes) and its much more passenger friendly. One 8 came along but he was on his own! All the others were side by side and two up.

PS any RV will be a great choice IMHO.

[ianfallon]

Can you get anywhere near Hinton-in-the-Hedges / Turweston area ?

Very welcome to come and see ours and chew the fat. Doubly so if you bring a wee dram !!

PM me be all means with any questions

[foxmoth]

We have a group round a 7 and would like a 4 as a second aircraft, the biggest problem you will probably have with a 4 is finding one for sale! You could import one but that is frought with all sorts of dangers!

[ianfallon]

Get a side by side.

Shocking to read such heresy!

[Dave W]

I saw an RV4 and an RV7 practicing formation over West Wales today.

They both looked pretty darned fine to me.

[foxmoth]

Side by side is better if you have a partner who is not really into flying and not sure about the 4 but certainly the 8 is not the ideal aircraft to do a tailwheel conversion on due to the poor rudder set up in the back, agreed the 4 does not have great baggage capacity but the 8 has loads so I would not go Side by side just for that, other disadvantages with a side by side are that there is no intentional spinning or flicks so that can also influence your decision.
Ideal for me would be to have a 7 and a 4, the 7 for tailwheel conversion, aeros two up and touring, the 4 for solo aeros and day trips.

[hatzflyer]

After 9 years in a 4 every time I fly a 6 I feel the view out the front is like looking through a letter box !

[pilotbarry]

There is an Rv4 at Strathaven and a couple of 6s at Perth

[Dave W]

After 9 years in a 4 every time I fly a 6 I feel the view out the front is like looking through a letter box !

Is that because it's a slider rather than a tipup?

[mick w]

I wouldn't fancy going all the way from Jockistan to Portugal , with my missus in the back , side by side essential for touring imo .

[foxmoth]

But then not everyone wants to do loads of touring!

[Paul_Sengupta]

Yeah, but...

I am looking for a fun aircraft to fly with my wife on my time off and do a little touring. The aircraft will be based in Scotland ( undecided airfield yet ) and used for trips around the UK and possibly down to Portugal.

[Global5000]

Dear All,

Thank you for your quick replies and ideas on the aircraft and my questions.

I must admit I hadn't really thought about an RV8, but having looked into it some more that might be a better aircraft but it somehow doesn't have the neat little sporty lines of the Rv4. I may be dreaming but while I work away from the UK I dream of coming home and enjoying summer afternoons tinkering with the aircraft, polishing leading edges and the smell of freshly cut grass on the airfield/grass strip. A world away from the day job, from any job.

The Mrs loves aviation, so I am very lucky but the point about sharing the time together, without her looking at the back of my head is a good point. Can anyone here give me an idea of a realistic range in an RV4?

I will operate it like work so I would want a minimum of 45 mins final reserve plus diversion fuel on landing. Scone airfield in Scotland is a real possibility, so making a trip down south towards the East midlands for fuel and then perhaps on further south, does that sound like a fair plan?

As someone said, perhaps I need two!

One other aircraft that would need double the budget was the F1 Evolution, which I believe is an improved Rv4, it looks terrifying and, bloody fantastic but I don't see any in the UK, is there a reason for that?

Thanks again for all the pointers and I will try and make some progress with organising a visit, with the Whiskey of course!

Thanks again,

G5000

[pilotbarry]

whiskEy?