After waiting two weeks for a break in the weather, family and work schedules I managed to get out to the field to testfly my RV-4 yesterday.

I spent some time getting the TT54 4C needle setting correct. I then removed the needle to install the cowl only to find the hole was about an eighth of an inch out. I decided to fly without the cowl. The wind was between 10 to 15mph right down the runway. The takeoff was fine, requiring little rudder. I needed 4 clicks of down trim and three click of right and I was flying hands off. Most of the flight was at 3/4 or less throttle.

After a few minutes the first roll was executed. It was too slow for my liking. I am used to my Extra 300 and Uproar. I changed to high rates and the roll rate was acceptable. I did a bunch of loops, stall turns and Cuban Eights before some extended inverted flight. Almost no down elevator was required. It will knife edge for a while, the 54 is not enough power for the legnth of the field knife edge.

The first landing was aborted as the plane floated and floated. I had read somewhere that this plane falls like a brick when powered back. It is not true with my plane. The next landing I slowed down and the results were great.

The second flight went well. It's a fun stable plane. I enjoyed goofing around flying close in. I did not try the flaps (simply forgot they were there). It lands at a crawl without the flaps.

I am looking forward to flying this bird with the cowl and landing with the flaps extended.

I love the way this plane looks in the air. I think the 54 is a perfect match for the airframe. It flys scale-like.

The model got lots of favorable remarks at the field. I was surprised how few folk know what a RV-4 is.

Thanks Great Planes. How about the RV-6, 8 and 9 to complete the hanger?