Billythekid
Well Known Member
I was wondering why the 4 wing is not a quick build option? As well as the whole kit?.. 
Van's Air Force
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Qb N/ A
- Thread starter Billythekid
- Start date
rmartingt
Well Known Member
I was wondering why the 4 wing is not a quick build option? As well as the whole kit?..
The short answer is that Van's doesn't see enough potential return on investment to justify the work of setting up and operating a quickbuild line. Most of the potential RV-4 quickbuild customers will just go to the RV-8 instead.
AX-O
Well Known Member
I was wondering why the 4 wing is not a quick build option? As well as the whole kit?..
because the technology at the time the -4 was designed/developed was not at the level that it was when the -7 and -8 were designed/developed.
The -4 was designed/developed in the mid 70s. The -8 was designed/developed in the mid 90s. Originally the -8 Fuselage was not pre punched. Van's redesigned that to the current version.
This would be like asking Nissan to redesign/retool the Datsun 240Z today vice just going buying a Nissan 370Z. It does not make sense for the company no matter how many of us want a Datsun 240.
Michael Henning
Well Known Member
It is definitely worth the extra effort. It is a blast to fly!!!!
Axel,
This is all true but not really the reason for no QB on the RV-4. A QB kit for the RV-6 was offered for many years (it was actually the first model, and still might be available on special order.... not sure).
Level of development wise, the RV-6 was not too much different than the RV-4.
The main reason (already mentioned) is that about the time that QB kits were beginning to get popular, the RV-8 had been introduced. Sales volume on the RV-4 was already beginning to slide with people choosing the RV-8 instead, and people that could afford a QB build were likely to be more interested in the RV-8 so a QB 4 never materialized.
The RV-4 is a fantastic airplane, so older kits bought at an economy price are great buys. The difference in kit price is paid for with the additional labor required compared to the later kits. Anyone with more time than money (especially if you are building on a pay as you go plan anyway) may find it a good way to go (just be careful, there are some old junk kits out there now).
The additional benefit is that builders of prepuch kits have to bow their heads in recognition when you say you built you RV-4
